CVE-2018-5499 in FibreBridge 7500N
Summary
by MITRE
ATTO FibreBridge 7500N firmware version 2.95 is susceptible to a vulnerability which allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2020
The ATTO FibreBridge 7500N is a network-attached storage device designed to provide high-performance Fibre Channel connectivity for enterprise storage environments. This device operates as a bridge between Fibre Channel storage networks and Ethernet-based networks, facilitating data transfer between storage arrays and servers. The firmware version 2.95 of this device contains a critical vulnerability that can be exploited to trigger a denial of service condition, effectively disrupting storage operations and potentially causing significant business impact. The vulnerability exists within the device's processing of certain network protocols or commands that are handled during normal operation.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure in input validation or resource management within the firmware's network processing components. Attackers can craft specific malicious packets or commands that, when processed by the FibreBridge 7500N, cause the device to enter an unstable state or crash entirely. This typically occurs when the device receives malformed or specially constructed data that it cannot properly handle during normal protocol processing. The vulnerability may involve buffer overflows, improper state handling, or failure to properly validate incoming network traffic parameters. The attack vector likely involves sending crafted network traffic to the device's management or data interfaces, potentially through the Fibre Channel or Ethernet ports depending on the specific implementation details of the flaw.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on the FibreBridge 7500N for their storage infrastructure. A successful attack can result in complete disruption of storage connectivity, forcing administrators to manually restart the device or restore from backup configurations. This leads to extended downtime for storage services, potential data access interruptions, and possible service level agreement violations for mission-critical applications. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network, making it particularly dangerous as attackers do not need physical access to the device. Organizations may experience cascading effects as dependent systems lose access to storage resources, potentially affecting multiple applications and services that rely on the storage infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate the FibreBridge 7500N devices from untrusted networks and apply the vendor-provided firmware update that addresses this vulnerability. Network access control lists should be configured to restrict access to the device's management interfaces and prevent unauthorized network traffic from reaching the device. Monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual network traffic patterns or device behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify crafted packets designed to trigger the specific vulnerability. The affected device should be placed in a secure network segment with minimal network access and regular security audits to ensure the vulnerability remains properly mitigated. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-122 which describes buffer overflow conditions, and may map to ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network disruption attacks.
The remediation process requires careful planning and execution to avoid service disruption during the update process. Organizations should test the firmware update in a controlled environment before deploying it to production devices. The update process should be scheduled during maintenance windows to minimize impact on storage operations. Network administrators should verify that the update properly resolves the vulnerability by conducting security testing and monitoring for any residual issues. Long-term security measures should include regular firmware updates, network monitoring for similar vulnerabilities, and maintaining up-to-date security baselines for storage infrastructure devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and robust error handling in network appliances, particularly those handling critical storage protocols that form the backbone of enterprise data infrastructure.