CVE-2018-2857 in Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK) component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite (subcomponent: HTTP data path subsystems). The supported version that is affected is Prior to 8.7.17. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK). Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK) accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK) accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK). CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.3 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2857 resides within the Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit component of Oracle's Sun Systems Products Suite, specifically affecting the HTTP data path subsystems. This weakness impacts versions prior to 8.7.17 and represents a significant security concern for organizations relying on ZFS storage infrastructure. The vulnerability operates within the context of network-based attacks where a low-privileged attacker can leverage HTTP protocols to gain unauthorized access to the storage appliance, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is inevitable. The affected subsystems process HTTP requests and handle data transmission, creating multiple potential attack vectors through which malicious actors can exploit the underlying flaw.
The technical flaw manifests as a weakness in the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the HTTP data path subsystems of the ZFS Storage Appliance Kit. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized operations including data modification, deletion, and insertion within certain accessible data sets. The flaw essentially allows for privilege escalation through network-based HTTP access, where the attacker can manipulate the appliance's data handling processes without requiring elevated credentials. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack surface is relatively accessible and that the exploitation techniques do not require advanced skills or specialized tools. The HTTP subsystem's failure to properly validate incoming requests and authenticate user privileges creates an opening for unauthorized data manipulation and access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple security domains including confidentiality, integrity, and availability as indicated by the CVSS 3.0 score of 6.3. Attackers can achieve unauthorized read access to specific data subsets, potentially exposing sensitive information stored within the appliance. The ability to perform unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations compromises data integrity, allowing malicious modifications that could go undetected for extended periods. Additionally, the vulnerability enables partial denial of service conditions that can disrupt storage operations and compromise availability of critical data services. Organizations utilizing affected ZFS appliances face potential data breaches, operational disruptions, and compliance violations that could result in significant financial and reputational damage.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to address CVE-2018-2857, as the vulnerability's low attack complexity and partial denial of service capabilities make it particularly attractive to threat actors. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the appliance to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses authentication failures in authentication and session management contexts, and relates to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation through network-based attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader storage infrastructure ecosystem.