CVE-2018-1464 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 obtain sensitive information that they should not have authorization to read. IBM X-Force ID: 140395.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1464 affects a suite of IBM storage systems including the SAN Volume Controller Storwize Spectrum Virtualize and FlashSystem products across multiple versions from 6.1 through 8.1.1. This security flaw represents a significant information disclosure issue that undermines the fundamental security principles of access control and data protection within enterprise storage environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization controls that permit authenticated users to access sensitive data beyond their designated permissions, creating a potential avenue for data exfiltration and unauthorized information gathering.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests as a weakness in the authentication and authorization mechanisms of these storage systems. Specifically, the flaw allows an authenticated user to bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive information that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-284 which describes improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that governs secure system design. The affected systems maintain inadequate validation of user permissions during data access requests, enabling malicious or compromised authenticated users to escalate their privileges and access restricted datasets.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risk to organizations relying on these IBM storage solutions for critical data infrastructure. The potential for unauthorized data access could lead to exposure of sensitive corporate information, customer data, or proprietary intellectual property stored within these systems. Security analysts should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1078 technique for Valid Accounts, as it allows for privilege escalation through legitimate authentication mechanisms. The risk assessment should include consideration of potential insider threats and the possibility of credential compromise leading to widespread unauthorized access across storage volumes.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by IBM to address the information disclosure vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring of storage system access patterns should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Access control policies should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure proper least privilege implementation, with regular audits of user permissions and access logs. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for suspicious data access patterns that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of the patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing regressions in system functionality.