CVE-2020-26192 in PowerScale OneFS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2021
Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS versions 8.2.0 - 9.1.0 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability. A non-admin user with either ISI_PRIV_LOGIN_CONSOLE or ISI_PRIV_LOGIN_SSH may potentially exploit this vulnerability to read arbitrary data, tamper with system software or deny service to users. Note: no non-admin users or roles have these privileges by default.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2021
This privilege escalation vulnerability exists within Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS storage systems across versions 8.2.0 through 9.1.0, representing a critical security weakness that undermines the system's access control mechanisms. The flaw specifically affects users who possess either the ISI_PRIV_LOGIN_CONSOLE or ISI_PRIV_LOGIN_SSH privileges, which are not granted by default to standard users or roles within the system configuration. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-269 privilege escalation category, where unauthorized users can elevate their privileges beyond what is intended by the system's security model. The affected system architecture demonstrates a failure in proper privilege validation and access control enforcement, allowing malicious actors with minimal initial access to potentially gain elevated system privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user privileges during system operations, particularly when processing console or ssh login requests. Attackers who successfully acquire either of these specific privileges can leverage them to execute arbitrary data read operations, modify system software components, or perform denial of service attacks against legitimate users. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it enables lateral movement within the system and potential compromise of the entire storage infrastructure. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to bypass the intended security boundaries that separate administrative and non-administrative user roles, fundamentally undermining the system's security posture.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on Dell EMC PowerScale systems for critical data storage operations. A successful exploitation could result in unauthorized data access, system corruption, or complete service disruption affecting business operations. The vulnerability's stealth nature makes detection particularly challenging since it operates within the legitimate system access paths that administrators expect to see. Organizations utilizing these storage systems face potential data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and significant operational downtime. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that these privileges can be acquired through various means including credential compromise or social engineering attacks that target system administrators.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates for affected OneFS versions. Organizations should conduct comprehensive privilege audits to identify and revoke unnecessary ISI_PRIV_LOGIN_CONSOLE or ISI_PRIV_LOGIN_SSH assignments from non-administrative users. The principle of least privilege should be strictly enforced, ensuring that only authorized personnel possess these elevated privileges. System administrators must implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous login patterns or privilege usage that could indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit lateral movement within the storage environment. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the system configuration. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of legitimate credentials and system access methods to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain compliance with industry security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001.