CVE-2018-1183 in Unisphere for VMAX Virtual Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
In Dell EMC Unisphere for VMAX Virtual Appliance versions prior to 8.4.0.8, Dell EMC Solutions Enabler Virtual Appliance versions prior to 8.4.0.8, Dell EMC VASA Provider Virtual Appliance versions prior to 8.4.0.512, Dell EMC SMIS versions prior to 8.4.0.6, Dell EMC VMAX Embedded Management (eManagement) versions prior to and including 1.4.0.347, Dell EMC VNX2 Operating Environment (OE) for File versions prior to 8.1.9.231, Dell EMC VNX2 Operating Environment (OE) for Block versions prior to 05.33.009.5.231, Dell EMC VNX1 Operating Environment (OE) for File versions prior to 7.1.82.0, Dell EMC VNX1 Operating Environment (OE) for Block versions prior to 05.32.000.5.225, Dell EMC VNXe3200 Operating Environment (OE) all versions, Dell EMC VNXe1600 Operating Environment (OE) versions prior to 3.1.9.9570228, Dell EMC VNXe 3100/3150/3300 Operating Environment (OE) all versions, Dell EMC ViPR SRM versions 3.7, 3.7.1, 3.7.2 (only if using Dell EMC Host Interface for Windows), Dell EMC ViPR SRM versions 4.0, 4.0.1, 4.0.2, 4.0.3 (only if using Dell EMC Host Interface for Windows), Dell EMC XtremIO versions 4.x, Dell EMC VMAX eNAS version 8.x, Dell EMC Unity Operating Environment (OE) versions prior to 4.3.0.1522077968, ECOM is affected by a XXE injection vulnerability due to the configuration of the XML parser shipped with the product. XXE Injection attack may occur when XML input containing a reference to an external entity (defined by the attacker) is processed by an affected XML parser. XXE Injection may allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to files containing sensitive information or may be used to cause denial-of-service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1183 represents a critical XML External Entity injection flaw affecting multiple Dell EMC virtual and physical storage appliances. This weakness exists within the XML parser configuration of various Dell EMC solutions including Unisphere for VMAX, Solutions Enabler, VASA Provider, SMIS, VMAX eManagement, VNX series operating environments, VNXe series, ViPR SRM, XtremIO, eNAS, and Unity systems. The vulnerability stems from improper XML parser settings that allow external entity references to be processed without adequate validation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted XML input. This issue specifically impacts versions prior to the mentioned release numbers, indicating that Dell EMC addressed this weakness in their subsequent software updates.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-611, which categorizes XML External Entity processing without proper restrictions as a significant security flaw. Attackers can leverage this weakness by constructing XML payloads that reference external entities, potentially enabling them to access local files on the system, exfiltrate sensitive data, or cause denial-of-service conditions. The XXE injection attack vector allows for unauthorized information disclosure, as the XML parser processes external references that could point to internal system resources, configuration files, or sensitive data repositories. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise storage environments where the targeted systems often contain critical operational data and may have elevated privileges within the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1183 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can potentially enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources and disrupt critical storage operations. In storage environments, where data integrity and availability are paramount, this vulnerability could allow adversaries to cause service disruption through denial-of-service conditions or to escalate privileges by accessing system files that contain authentication credentials or configuration parameters. The attack surface is particularly broad given that multiple Dell EMC products are affected, increasing the potential for successful exploitation across different infrastructure components. Organizations using these systems face risks of data breaches, system compromise, and operational disruption that could impact business continuity and regulatory compliance requirements.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems to the recommended versions that contain fixed XML parser configurations. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected appliances to untrusted networks or users. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual XML processing activities or attempts to access external resources through XML input. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1213, which involves data from information repositories, as attackers could leverage XXE to extract sensitive data from the targeted systems. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other XML processing components that might be susceptible to similar weaknesses. Regular security updates and proper input validation practices should be implemented across all XML processing components to prevent future occurrences of this class of vulnerability.