CVE-2019-5405 in 3PAR Service Processor
Summary
by MITRE
A remote authorization bypass vulnerability was discovered in HPE 3PAR StoreServ Management and Core Software Media version(s): prior to 3.5.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5405 represents a critical remote authorization bypass flaw in HPE 3PAR StoreServ Management and Core Software Media systems. This issue affects versions prior to 3.5.0.1 and allows unauthorized remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain administrative access to the storage management interface. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of user credentials and session management within the software components, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate privileges without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the software's handling of authentication tokens and session validation processes. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests that circumvent the standard authentication flow, effectively allowing them to execute administrative commands and access sensitive storage configurations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely over network connections, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where storage systems are often exposed to external networks. This authorization bypass creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks that align with attack techniques categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion domains.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5405 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to manipulate critical storage configurations, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized data access, or complete system compromise. Organizations utilizing affected HPE 3PAR systems face significant risk of data breaches and operational disruptions when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The flaw particularly affects enterprise storage environments where 3PAR systems manage critical data assets, making the potential damage substantial. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-287 which deals with improper authentication issues, specifically addressing weak or missing authentication mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to protected resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security patches and updates to version 3.5.0.1 or later. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to storage management interfaces and enforce strict access controls using role-based permissions. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns and unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process involves not only updating the software but also reviewing existing access controls and implementing additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication and network access controls. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the storage infrastructure. Organizations must also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The security community has identified this as a high-severity issue requiring immediate attention, with the potential for significant operational and financial consequences if left unaddressed.