CVE-2018-7108 in StorageWorks XP7 Automation Director
Summary
by MITRE
HPE StorageWorks XP7 Automation Director (AutoDir) version 8.5.2-02 to earlier than 8.6.1-00 has a local and remote authentication bypass vulnerability that exposed the user authentication information of the storage system. This problem sometimes occurred under specific conditions when running a service template.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-7108 affects HPE StorageWorks XP7 Automation Director (AutoDir) versions 8.5.2-02 and earlier, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that compromises the security of storage systems. This issue manifests as both local and remote authentication bypass conditions, allowing unauthorized access to user authentication information within the storage environment. The vulnerability specifically occurs under certain conditions when executing service templates, creating a persistent security risk that could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive storage system data and operations.
The technical flaw stems from improper authentication handling within the AutoDir service template execution process, where the system fails to properly validate user credentials during specific operational scenarios. This authentication bypass vulnerability allows attackers to circumvent normal access controls and directly access storage system resources without proper authorization. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects both local and remote access vectors, meaning that unauthorized individuals could exploit this weakness from either within the local network or through external network connections, significantly expanding the potential attack surface.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7108 is substantial, as it exposes user authentication information that could lead to complete system compromise. Storage administrators face the risk of unauthorized data access, potential data exfiltration, and disruption of critical storage operations. The vulnerability's occurrence during service template execution means that legitimate administrative tasks could inadvertently trigger the authentication bypass, creating both security risks and operational instability. Organizations using affected HPE StorageWorks XP7 systems face potential compliance violations and regulatory penalties due to the exposure of sensitive authentication data.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate patching to upgrade affected systems to AutoDir version 8.6.1-00 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the authentication bypass issue. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected systems, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred before patching. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK framework category T1110 for credential access, highlighting the critical nature of protecting storage system authentication mechanisms.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for storage infrastructure components and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of automated processes. The authentication bypass represents a fundamental failure in the system's security architecture, where normal access controls are circumvented through specific operational conditions. Organizations should implement regular security assessments of their storage environments and establish robust patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from affecting their infrastructure. The incident also highlights the risks associated with complex automation systems where service templates can inadvertently create security weaknesses that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access to critical storage resources.