CVE-2018-14696 in 5N2 NAS
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect access control in the /mysql/api/drobo.php endpoint in Drobo 5N2 NAS version 4.0.5-13.28.96115 allows unauthenticated attackers to retrieve sensitive system information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14696 represents a critical access control flaw within the Drobo 5N2 Network Attached Storage device running firmware version 4.0.5-13.28.96115. This issue manifests in the /mysql/api/drobo.php endpoint which fails to properly authenticate incoming requests, creating an unauthorized access vector that exposes sensitive system information to any remote attacker without requiring valid credentials. The flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of authentication and authorization, allowing malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and obtain confidential data from the storage system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication mechanisms within the web application layer of the Drobo NAS device. The /mysql/api/drobo.php endpoint appears to lack proper access control checks, permitting any unauthenticated user to submit requests that would normally require administrative privileges or valid session tokens. This misconfiguration creates a path for attackers to exploit the system's database interface directly, potentially accessing user credentials, system configurations, network settings, and other sensitive operational data. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor security design practices that align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed system information could enable more sophisticated attacks against the affected NAS device. Attackers who gain access to system details may leverage this information to conduct further reconnaissance, identify additional vulnerabilities, or craft targeted attacks against the storage infrastructure. The exposure of database connection parameters, user account information, and system configurations provides attackers with valuable intelligence for privilege escalation attempts or lateral movement within network environments where the device resides. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and home network environments where NAS devices serve as critical storage infrastructure, potentially compromising large volumes of sensitive data.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from Drobo to address the authentication flaw, network segmentation to isolate the affected device from critical systems, and the implementation of network access controls to restrict access to the vulnerable endpoint. Security administrators should also conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all affected Drobo devices within their networks and disable unnecessary services where possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security assessments and firmware updates, as well as adherence to security frameworks such as those recommended by the Center for Internet Security. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activity targeting the specific endpoint and maintain detailed network logs for forensic analysis should compromise occur. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for proper authentication mechanisms in network services and the potential consequences when such controls fail.