CVE-2019-3476 in Data Protector
Summary
by MITRE
Remote arbitrary code execution in Micro Focus Data Protector, version 10.03 this vulnerability could allow remote arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3476 represents a critical security flaw in Micro Focus Data Protector version 10.03 that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This vulnerability resides within the backup and recovery software platform that organizations rely upon to protect their critical data assets, making it particularly dangerous as it could compromise the entire data protection infrastructure of affected enterprises. The flaw manifests in the application's handling of certain network requests, creating an attack surface that remote threat actors can exploit without requiring authentication credentials. Organizations using this version of Data Protector face significant risk as the vulnerability allows for complete system compromise, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system disruption, and lateral movement within network environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient sanitization of network communications within the Data Protector application. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable software, trigger unintended code execution. This typically occurs through specially crafted network requests that exploit buffer overflow conditions or other input manipulation techniques. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or local network privileges to carry out the attack, significantly expanding the potential attack surface. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which describes weaknesses in the management of memory or resources, particularly in scenarios where insufficient bounds checking occurs during data processing. The flaw essentially allows for privilege escalation and unauthorized system control, representing a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-3476 extends far beyond simple system compromise, as it directly threatens the integrity and availability of critical data protection services. Organizations that have not patched this vulnerability face potential data loss, system downtime, and regulatory compliance violations, particularly in industries governed by strict data protection regulations such as healthcare, finance, and government sectors. The attack could result in complete system takeover, allowing threat actors to access backup repositories, modify or delete critical data, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for attacks on other network resources. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including T1059 for command and script injection, T1078 for valid accounts, and T1566 for phishing, as attackers could leverage the compromised system to further their objectives. The disruption to backup operations could also lead to extended recovery times and potential data corruption, severely impacting business continuity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-3476 require immediate action from affected organizations, beginning with applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates. Micro Focus released fixes specifically addressing this vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected systems. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to Data Protector services, particularly limiting exposure to external networks. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software version and ensure proper patch management processes are in place. Monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review and update their incident response procedures to account for potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure system stability and prevent potential service disruptions. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and privileged access management to reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.