CVE-2018-11078 in VPLEX GeoSynchrony
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC VPlex GeoSynchrony, versions prior to 6.1, contains an Insecure File Permissions vulnerability. A remote authenticated malicious user could read from VPN configuration files on and potentially author a MITM attack on the VPN traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11078 affects Dell EMC VPlex GeoSynchrony software versions prior to 6.1, representing a critical insecure file permissions flaw that compromises the security of virtualized storage environments. This vulnerability resides within the network configuration management components of the VPlex GeoSynchrony system, which is designed to provide geo-replication capabilities for distributed storage systems. The issue stems from improper file permission settings that allow unauthorized access to sensitive VPN configuration files, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this storage virtualization platform.
The technical flaw manifests through inadequate access control mechanisms that fail to properly restrict file permissions for VPN configuration files. Specifically, the vulnerability enables authenticated attackers to access VPN configuration data through insecure file permissions that should normally be restricted to privileged system users only. This misconfiguration allows malicious actors with valid credentials to read sensitive network configuration information, including encryption keys, authentication parameters, and tunnel configuration details. The vulnerability operates at the file system level, where standard Unix/Linux permission models are not properly enforced, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by users with legitimate access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of network communications. When attackers can access VPN configuration files, they gain insights into the network topology, encryption methods, and authentication mechanisms used by the VPlex GeoSynchrony system. This intelligence enables sophisticated attacks including traffic interception, session hijacking, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on secure communications between geographically distributed storage arrays, where the compromise of VPN configurations can lead to complete network exposure and data loss.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Dell EMC VPlex GeoSynchrony version 6.1 or later, which contains the necessary permission fixes. System administrators must also conduct thorough permission audits to ensure that VPN configuration files are properly secured with restrictive access controls. The remediation process should include implementing principle of least privilege access models and regular security assessments of file system permissions. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which addresses improper file permissions, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK framework category T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through network reconnaissance. The security implications extend to compliance requirements under standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, where proper access controls and file permissions are mandatory for protecting sensitive information assets.