CVE-2017-8371 in StruxureWare Data Center Expert
Summary
by MITRE
Schneider Electric StruxureWare Data Center Expert before 7.4.0 uses cleartext RAM storage for passwords, which might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8371 affects Schneider Electric StruxureWare Data Center Expert versions prior to 7.4.0, representing a critical security flaw in the handling of sensitive authentication credentials. This issue manifests through the improper storage of passwords in clear text within random access memory, creating a significant exposure point for malicious actors who may exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to critical data center infrastructure. The vulnerability falls under the category of insecure credential storage as defined by CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive data through inadequate protection mechanisms during processing operations.
The technical implementation flaw involves the application's memory management practices where authentication credentials are stored in an unencrypted format within volatile memory structures. This design choice creates an attack surface that allows remote adversaries to potentially access memory dumps or utilize memory inspection techniques to extract password information. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack scenarios may be possible, including but not limited to memory scraping attacks, debugging interface exploitation, or other memory-based penetration techniques that have been documented in various cybersecurity frameworks. This weakness directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers "Unsecured Credentials" through the exploitation of memory-based credential exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it compromises the fundamental security posture of data center management systems that rely on StruxureWare for monitoring and control. When attackers successfully extract password information from memory, they gain the ability to impersonate legitimate users and potentially escalate privileges within the data center environment. This exposure creates cascading security risks where compromised credentials could be used to access additional systems, modify critical configurations, or disrupt operations within the data center infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that depend on Schneider Electric's solutions for their data center operations, potentially exposing them to unauthorized access to critical infrastructure management systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to StruxureWare Data Center Expert version 7.4.0 or later, which addresses this vulnerability through improved credential handling mechanisms. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of memory access patterns can provide additional layers of defense against potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough assessments of their data center environments to identify any systems running vulnerable versions and ensure proper credential rotation procedures are implemented. The remediation process should include verifying that password storage mechanisms now utilize appropriate encryption or obfuscation techniques to prevent clear text exposure in memory, aligning with industry best practices for secure credential management as outlined in NIST SP 800-63B and other security standards.