CVE-2018-1246 in Unity
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC Unity and UnityVSA contains reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability by tricking a victim application user to supply malicious HTML or Java Script code to Unisphere, which is then reflected back to the victim and executed by the web browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
The CVE-2018-1246 vulnerability represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Dell EMC Unity and UnityVSA storage management platforms. This vulnerability resides within the Unisphere web interface component that administrators and users employ to manage storage arrays. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before reflecting it back to web browsers, creating an avenue for malicious code execution. The vulnerability affects both the Unity storage arrays and their virtualized versions, UnityVSA, which are commonly deployed in enterprise environments for data storage management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a classic reflected XSS attack vector where an attacker crafts malicious payloads and delivers them to unsuspecting users via phishing emails, compromised websites, or social engineering tactics. When a victim clicks on a malicious link containing the crafted JavaScript code, the web application processes this input without adequate sanitization and reflects the malicious script back to the victim's browser. The reflected payload executes within the victim's browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites. This vulnerability specifically impacts the Unisphere management interface which serves as the primary web-based administration tool for Dell EMC Unity storage systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1246 extends beyond simple script execution as it compromises the integrity of the storage management environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to storage configurations, potentially leading to data manipulation, unauthorized access to storage resources, or even complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the security posture of enterprise storage environments where Unisphere is used for critical storage management functions. Given that storage systems often contain sensitive organizational data, the exploitation of this vulnerability could result in significant data breaches or operational disruptions. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no prior credentials are required to attempt exploitation, making it particularly dangerous for environments where storage management interfaces are accessible from untrusted networks.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected systems. The Dell EMC security advisory recommends upgrading to specific firmware versions that address the reflected XSS flaw in the Unisphere interface. Network segmentation should be implemented to restrict access to storage management interfaces, limiting exposure to untrusted users. Input validation mechanisms should be strengthened at the application level to prevent malicious payloads from being processed and reflected back to users. Web application firewalls can provide additional protection by detecting and blocking suspicious requests containing known XSS patterns. Security awareness training for administrators and users helps prevent social engineering attacks that might deliver malicious payloads. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 related to spearphishing attacks that could leverage such vulnerabilities for initial access. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within their storage management infrastructure.