CVE-2017-8959 in MSA 1040
Summary
by MITRE
An Authentication Bypass vulnerability in HPE MSA 1040 and HPE MSA 2040 SAN Storage in version GL220P008 and earlier and was found.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8959 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting HPE MSA 1040 and HPE MSA 2040 SAN storage systems running firmware versions GL220P008 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the storage array's authentication mechanism, potentially allowing unauthorized access to critical storage resources without proper credentials. The flaw specifically impacts the management interface of these enterprise storage devices, which are commonly deployed in data center environments where they manage large-scale storage infrastructure for mission-critical applications. The vulnerability was discovered through security research and subsequently documented by HPE, highlighting a significant gap in the authentication controls of these storage appliances.
Technical analysis reveals that the authentication bypass occurs due to improper validation of user credentials within the storage management interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain administrative access to the storage arrays without providing valid authentication information, effectively circumventing the standard login procedures. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication flow control mechanisms within the firmware implementation. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for lateral movement. The authentication bypass allows adversaries to perform administrative functions including but not limited to configuration changes, data access manipulation, and system monitoring capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as storage arrays serve as fundamental components in enterprise data infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially compromise entire storage networks by accessing sensitive data, modifying storage configurations, or disrupting storage services. The affected systems are particularly vulnerable in environments where storage arrays are directly exposed to untrusted networks or where administrative access is not properly segmented. The implications are severe given that these storage appliances often contain critical business data, customer information, and enterprise applications that rely on the storage infrastructure for operation. Organizations using these systems without proper patching or network segmentation are at significant risk of data breaches and service disruptions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8959 involve immediate firmware updates from HPE to address the authentication bypass vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize patching their affected storage arrays with the latest firmware versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict direct access to storage management interfaces, ensuring that only authorized personnel can reach these critical systems. Additional security controls including multi-factor authentication, network monitoring, and regular vulnerability assessments should be deployed to enhance overall security posture. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing defense-in-depth strategies for enterprise storage infrastructure. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to unauthorized access attempts and ensure proper logging and audit capabilities are enabled for the affected storage systems.