CVE-2018-1462 in SAN Volume Controller
Summary
by MITRE
IBM SAN Volume Controller, IBM Storwize, IBM Spectrum Virtualize and IBM FlashSystem products ( 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.6.1, 7.7, 7.7.1, 7.8, 7.8.1, 8.1, and 8.1.1) could allow an authenticated user to access system files they should not have access to including deleting files or causing a denial of service. IBM X-Force ID: 140363.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1462 affects a range of IBM storage virtualization and management products including the SAN Volume Controller, Storwize, Spectrum Virtualize, and FlashSystem platforms. This issue represents a significant access control weakness that could potentially allow authenticated users to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to system files and resources. The vulnerability impacts multiple versions spanning from 6.1 through 8.1.1, indicating a widespread exposure across the product line. According to the IBM X-Force ID 140363, this flaw enables attackers with legitimate authentication credentials to perform unauthorized operations on the affected systems, potentially leading to data compromise or service disruption. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions on system resources.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient authorization mechanism within the storage management software, allowing authenticated users to bypass normal access controls and manipulate system files. This could enable attackers to delete critical files or execute operations that would normally be restricted to administrators or system-level processes. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized file access as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise through file deletion or denial of service conditions. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could leverage their authenticated access to escalate privileges and perform operations that should be restricted to authorized administrative personnel. The flaw represents a critical weakness in the privilege separation mechanisms of these storage systems, where the system fails to properly validate user permissions for sensitive operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations relying on these IBM storage solutions, as it could lead to unauthorized data deletion, service disruption, and potential data loss. Organizations using affected versions of these storage platforms face increased risk of operational downtime due to denial of service conditions that could result from file deletion operations. The vulnerability also creates potential data integrity issues as unauthorized users could modify or remove critical system files that maintain the storage platform's functionality. This weakness could be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where storage systems manage critical business data and applications, potentially leading to compliance violations and regulatory penalties. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions suggests that organizations may have been exposed for extended periods without proper detection or mitigation.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided security patches and updates for all affected IBM storage systems to remediate this vulnerability. System administrators should conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all impacted devices and ensure proper patch management protocols are followed. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reviewed and strengthened to limit the potential impact of compromised accounts. Monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized file access attempts or unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of storage management interfaces should be conducted to identify and remediate similar access control weaknesses. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting legitimate credentials to gain higher-level access within systems. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege policies and regularly review access permissions to minimize the potential impact of authenticated user compromise.