CVE-2018-6433 in Fabric OS
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the secryptocfg export command of Brocade Fabric OS versions before 8.2.1, 8.1.2f, 8.0.2f, 7.4.2d could allow a local attacker to bypass the export file access restrictions and initiate a file copy from the source to a remote system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6433 resides within the secryptocfg export command of Brocade Fabric OS software, representing a critical access control flaw that affects multiple version branches including those before 8.2.1, 8.1.2f, 8.0.2f, and 7.4.2d. This issue manifests as a privilege escalation vulnerability that enables local attackers to circumvent established security controls governing export file access permissions. The flaw specifically targets the cryptographic configuration export functionality that is fundamental to storage area network management and security operations within enterprise environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper validation of access controls within the secryptocfg export command implementation. When a local attacker executes the export command, the system fails to properly enforce the security restrictions that should prevent unauthorized file copying operations. This weakness allows malicious users with local access to bypass authentication mechanisms and initiate file transfer operations to remote systems without proper authorization. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access control checks that should normally prevent such operations from proceeding when proper security contexts are not established. This flaw represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checking that aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6433 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it provides attackers with a mechanism to exfiltrate sensitive cryptographic configuration data from network infrastructure devices. Storage area networks managed by Brocade Fabric OS often contain critical security parameters, encryption keys, and configuration data that could be leveraged by threat actors to compromise entire network security postures. The ability to copy files to remote systems creates a persistent threat vector that could enable attackers to establish backdoor access, conduct further reconnaissance, or deploy additional malicious payloads. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of network security infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to gain deeper access to connected storage networks and compromise the security of sensitive data repositories.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the specific access control bypass issue. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized export operations and file transfer activities within their storage networks. The security configuration of affected Brocade Fabric OS systems should be reviewed to ensure that proper access controls remain in place and that unnecessary local access privileges are minimized. Given the nature of this vulnerability, organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their storage infrastructure to identify any other potential access control weaknesses that could be exploited in similar fashion. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust access controls in network infrastructure devices and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1567 for Exfiltration, highlighting the multi-layered threat implications of such access control bypass vulnerabilities in enterprise storage environments.