CVE-2019-13466 in SSD Dashboard
Summary
by MITRE
Western Digital SSD Dashboard before 2.5.1.0 and SanDisk SSD Dashboard before 2.5.1.0 have Incorrect Access Control. The ?generate reports? archive is protected with a hard-coded password. An application update that addresses the protection of archive encryption is available.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13466 affects Western Digital SSD Dashboard and SanDisk SSD Dashboard software versions prior to 2.5.1.0, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security of system reporting functionality. This issue manifests through the improper implementation of archive encryption protection mechanisms within the dashboard applications. The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of a hard-coded password within the software implementation, creating a predictable and static authentication mechanism that bypasses proper access control enforcement. This flaw falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically addressing improper access control where the system fails to properly restrict access to protected resources. The hard-coded credentials create a persistent security risk that remains unchanged regardless of system updates or user authentication attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the generation of report archives that are encrypted using a password that is embedded directly within the application code rather than being dynamically generated or user-configurable. This hard-coded approach eliminates any possibility of legitimate access control enforcement and creates a scenario where any attacker with knowledge of the specific password can decrypt and access sensitive system information. The flaw exists in the application's cryptographic implementation where the encryption key is not properly managed or randomized, violating fundamental security principles of key management and access control. The vulnerability creates a path for unauthorized access to system diagnostic information, performance metrics, and potentially sensitive operational data that should be protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential system compromise and information leakage that could aid adversaries in conducting further attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access detailed system reports containing hardware information, performance statistics, and potentially other sensitive data that could be leveraged for targeted attacks against the system or organization. The presence of hard-coded credentials in the application creates a persistent backdoor that remains active across system reboots and updates, making it particularly dangerous as it cannot be easily remediated through standard user authentication procedures. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of system information, potentially exposing organizations to risks such as competitive intelligence theft, system compromise, or compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application of the vendor-provided security update that addresses the improper access control implementation. Organizations should prioritize updating to Western Digital SSD Dashboard version 2.5.1.0 and SanDisk SSD Dashboard version 2.5.1.0 to resolve the hard-coded password issue. The remediation process should include verifying that the update properly implements dynamic encryption key generation and access control mechanisms rather than relying on static credentials. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to ensure no other applications within their environment contain similar hard-coded credential issues. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to system reporting functionality and establish proper access control policies for sensitive system information. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper cryptographic implementation and access control design, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for credentials in files and T1078 for valid accounts, as the hard-coded password essentially provides unauthorized access through legitimate system interfaces.