CVE-2018-11052 in ECS
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC ECS versions 3.2.0.0 and 3.2.0.1 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to read and modify S3 objects by supplying specially crafted S3 requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11052 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in Dell EMC Elastic Cloud Storage (ECS) software versions 3.2.0.0 and 3.2.0.1. This weakness fundamentally undermines the security model of the storage platform by allowing unauthorized remote access to S3 object storage capabilities. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of authentication tokens within the S3 API request processing pipeline, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent the standard authentication mechanisms that should protect sensitive data assets. The flaw specifically affects the S3-compatible storage interface that Dell EMC ECS provides, which is widely used for cloud-based object storage solutions and enterprise data management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted S3 API requests that manipulate the authentication flow within the ECS system. Attackers can construct requests that appear legitimate to the system's parsing mechanisms while bypassing the required authentication checks. This allows unauthorized parties to perform read and write operations on S3 objects without proper credentials, effectively granting them full access to the storage repository. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it affects the core storage functionality of the ECS platform, potentially exposing large volumes of sensitive data to unauthorized access. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and authentication handling practices that align with CWE-287, which addresses improper handling of authentication tokens and credentials.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using Dell EMC ECS deployments, particularly those handling confidential or regulated data. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can target the system from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or valid credentials. This makes the vulnerability especially dangerous in cloud environments where ECS systems may be exposed to internet-facing services. The ability to both read and modify S3 objects provides attackers with complete control over the data stored in the system, enabling data exfiltration, corruption, or manipulation of critical business information. Organizations may face compliance violations and regulatory penalties if sensitive data is compromised through this vulnerability, particularly in industries governed by standards such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, or GDPR.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2018-11052 requires immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates from Dell EMC. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of ECS systems to untrusted networks. Monitoring for suspicious S3 API activity and implementing robust logging mechanisms can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application indicates that defensive measures should include regular security assessments of exposed storage services and proper configuration management. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary S3 API endpoints, implementing multi-factor authentication where possible, and conducting regular security audits of cloud storage configurations. Organizations should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems to monitor for patterns consistent with S3 API abuse and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing storage system compromises.