CVE-2018-14705 in 5N2
Summary
by MITRE
In Drobo 5N2 4.0.5, all optional applications lack any form of authentication/authorization validation. As a result, any user capable of accessing the device over the network may interact with and control these applications. This not only poses a severe risk to the availability of these applications, but also poses severe risks to the confidentiality and integrity of data stored within the applications and the device itself.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14705 affects Drobo 5N2 storage devices running firmware version 4.0.5 and exposes a critical security flaw in the device's application architecture. This weakness represents a fundamental failure in the device's security design, where optional applications are completely accessible without any form of authentication or authorization checks. The absence of access controls creates an environment where any network-connected user can exploit these applications without proper credentials, fundamentally undermining the security posture of the device and its stored data.
This vulnerability manifests as a severe lack of authentication mechanisms within the device's optional applications, creating an attack surface that violates basic security principles. The flaw allows unauthorized network users to interact with and control these applications directly, which constitutes a critical failure in the principle of least privilege. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability enables privilege escalation and unauthorized access to sensitive device functions, as the applications operate without any verification of user identity or authorization level. The issue directly maps to CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a classic case of insufficient authentication mechanisms that leave systems vulnerable to unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating risks to data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. An attacker with network access can manipulate application functions, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized data access, or complete application disruption. The confidentiality risk is particularly severe as sensitive data stored within these applications becomes accessible to any network user, while the integrity risk stems from the ability to modify application behavior and potentially compromise the device's overall operation. The availability risk manifests through potential denial of service attacks where unauthorized users can disrupt application functionality, impacting legitimate users' ability to access their data.
From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides an easy path to compromise the device's security model, as it requires no specialized tools or advanced techniques beyond basic network connectivity. The attack surface is broad and accessible, making it a prime target for exploitation in various threat scenarios. Organizations using Drobo 5N2 devices face significant risk of unauthorized data access, potential data exfiltration, and operational disruption. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access points or use the device as a stepping stone for further network infiltration, representing a serious concern for enterprise security. Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates when available, network segmentation to limit access to these devices, and implementation of additional access controls at the network level to prevent unauthorized users from reaching the vulnerable applications.
The security implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper authentication and authorization controls in networked storage devices. This flaw demonstrates how basic security mechanisms can be overlooked in embedded systems, creating persistent risks that may remain undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability also underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of all device components, particularly optional applications that may not receive the same security scrutiny as core functionality. Organizations should implement regular security assessments of their storage infrastructure to identify similar authentication gaps that could compromise data security and integrity.