CVE-2018-14703 in 5N2 NAS
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect access control in the /mysql/api/droboapp/data endpoint in Drobo 5N2 NAS version 4.0.5-13.28.96115 allows unauthenticated attackers to retrieve the MySQL database root password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14703 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 specifically affects the /mysql/api/droboapp/data endpoint which serves as an API interface for MySQL database operations within the NAS system. The flaw stems from improper authentication mechanisms that fail to verify the identity of incoming requests before granting access to sensitive database information. Attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring any valid credentials or authentication tokens to access the endpoint and extract critical database root password information.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning. The technical implementation flaw occurs at the application layer where the API endpoint lacks proper authorization checks, allowing any remote attacker to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely. The endpoint exposes database credentials that are typically protected by robust access control policies, creating an unauthorized information disclosure scenario that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and need-to-know.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted for affected organizations. An unauthenticated attacker who discovers this endpoint can immediately gain access to the MySQL database root password, which provides unrestricted administrative access to the database system. This access enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, data manipulation, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network. The compromised database credentials can also serve as a foothold for further attacks, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to all data stored within the MySQL database. Organizations using this NAS configuration face significant risk of data breaches and regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through firmware updates provided by Drobo, as this represents the most effective solution to address the underlying access control implementation flaw. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected endpoint, particularly blocking external access to the NAS device's management interfaces. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive network scans to identify all instances of affected firmware versions and implement monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to database endpoints. Additionally, security teams should review and strengthen access control policies, ensuring that all database credentials are properly secured and that regular audits are conducted to verify that authentication mechanisms function as intended. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and access control checks at all API endpoints, particularly those handling sensitive data or administrative functions.