CVE-2018-2917 in Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK)
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK) component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite (subcomponent: API frameworks). The supported version that is affected is Prior to 8.7.18. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK). Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK). CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.3 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2917 affects the Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit component within Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite, specifically targeting the API frameworks subcomponent. This security flaw exists in versions prior to 8.7.18 and represents a significant concern for organizations utilizing ZFS storage solutions. The vulnerability resides in the authentication mechanisms of the appliance's API framework, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system without requiring any valid credentials or authentication tokens. The affected appliance operates as a network-accessible storage solution that provides various API endpoints for management and data operations, making it a critical target for attackers seeking to disrupt storage services.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication controls within the API frameworks of the ZFS Storage Appliance Kit. Attackers can leverage multiple network protocols to access the vulnerable system without providing valid authentication credentials, exploiting a fundamental weakness in the appliance's access control mechanisms. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack vector requires minimal technical expertise or resources to execute successfully. The CVSS score of 5.3 reflects the availability impact, specifically the potential for partial denial of service conditions that can disrupt normal storage operations and compromise the reliability of the appliance. This weakness creates a scenario where unauthorized parties can manipulate system resources and potentially cause service interruptions that affect data availability and system performance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the integrity of storage operations and data availability. Successful exploitation can lead to partial denial of service conditions that affect storage performance and access to critical data assets. Organizations relying on ZFS storage appliances for their data infrastructure may experience service degradation or temporary unavailability of storage resources, potentially affecting business continuity and data access for authorized users. The vulnerability affects the entire appliance ecosystem and can impact multiple storage operations simultaneously, creating cascading effects that may require significant recovery efforts. System administrators face increased operational burden as they must monitor for potential exploitation attempts and implement emergency mitigation measures while working toward permanent solution deployment.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to version 8.7.18 or later of the Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing network segmentation to limit access to the appliance's API endpoints, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network activity, and establishing enhanced monitoring procedures for unauthorized access attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing additional authentication controls and access restrictions for API frameworks, particularly for administrative functions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in system components, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their storage infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities and implement layered security controls to protect against future exploitation attempts.