CVE-2018-14701 in 5N2 NAS
Summary
by MITRE
System command injection in the /DroboAccess/delete_user endpoint in Drobo 5N2 NAS version 4.0.5-13.28.96115 allows unauthenticated attackers to execute system commands via the "username" URL parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14701 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Drobo 5N2 Network Attached Storage device running firmware version 4.0.5-13.28.96115. This security weakness resides in the /DroboAccess/delete_user endpoint, which processes user deletion requests through a web interface. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit the system by manipulating the "username" URL parameter, thereby gaining the ability to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected device. The absence of proper input validation and sanitization in this endpoint creates a direct pathway for malicious actors to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system.
This command injection vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category, specifically CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command, which is a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to inject malicious commands into system execution contexts. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-94, which describes the execution of arbitrary code, and CWE-116, concerning improper encoding or escaping of output. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring any authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for network-attached storage devices that are often exposed to external networks. The exploitation process involves crafting malicious URL parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable endpoint, are interpreted as system commands rather than simple user identifiers, enabling attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the web application process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete system compromise and potential data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, install backdoors, modify system configurations, or access sensitive user data stored on the NAS device. Given that NAS devices typically store large volumes of organizational data, including documents, media files, and potentially sensitive business information, the compromise of such a device can result in significant data breaches and regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability also poses risks to network infrastructure as attackers can use the compromised device as a pivot point for lateral movement within the network, potentially accessing other systems that may not be directly exposed to the internet. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that any attacker with access to the network can immediately begin exploiting the vulnerability without needing to first establish credentials, making the attack surface extremely broad.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14701 should focus on immediate firmware updates from Drobo to address the command injection vulnerability, as well as network-level protections including firewall rules that restrict access to the affected endpoint and monitoring for suspicious URL parameter patterns. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate NAS devices from critical network segments and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that the web application running on the NAS device operates with minimal required permissions and that input validation is implemented at multiple layers of the application stack. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly in web applications handling user input, and demonstrates the necessity of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in network infrastructure devices. Compliance with standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 should include requirements for input validation and command execution controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software deployments.