CVE-2020-29499 in PowerStore
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2021
Dell EMC PowerStore versions prior to 1.0.3.0.5.006 contain an OS Command Injection vulnerability in PowerStore X environment . A locally authenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to the execution of arbitrary OS command on the PowerStore underlying OS. Exploiting may lead to a system take over by an attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-29499 represents a critical operating system command injection flaw within Dell EMC PowerStore storage systems, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.0.3.0.5.006. This vulnerability resides within the PowerStore X environment and demonstrates a fundamental security weakness that allows for arbitrary code execution at the operating system level. The flaw creates a pathway for attackers to execute malicious commands on the underlying operating system, potentially compromising the entire storage infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into operating system commands without proper validation or sanitization. This weakness fundamentally undermines the system's integrity and provides attackers with elevated privileges that extend beyond normal operational boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the PowerStore X environment's command processing functions. An attacker with local authentication credentials can manipulate input parameters to inject malicious operating system commands that will be executed with the privileges of the affected service account. This command injection occurs at a critical layer where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system execution paths without adequate sanitization or parameter escaping. The attack vector leverages the legitimate system interfaces that should normally be protected from malicious input, creating a scenario where authorized users can be exploited to perform unauthorized system operations. The vulnerability's exploitation capability extends beyond simple command execution to potentially enable complete system compromise through privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides a direct pathway for attackers to gain full control over the underlying operating system. Successful exploitation can result in complete system takeover, allowing attackers to access, modify, or delete sensitive data stored on the PowerStore arrays. The compromised system may be used as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure, particularly since storage systems often contain critical organizational data and may be positioned in privileged network segments. This vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the storage infrastructure, potentially leading to data breaches, system downtime, and regulatory compliance violations. The local authentication requirement does not adequately protect against insider threats or compromised accounts, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent.
Organizations must implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that specifically target the command injection flaw. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to PowerStore version 1.0.3.0.5.006 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms to prevent malicious command injection attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit local authentication access to only authorized personnel, while implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous command execution patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing storage system compromise scenarios. The mitigation approach should align with established security frameworks such as the mitre ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on techniques related to command and scripting interpreter execution and privilege escalation. Organizations should also implement continuous monitoring of system logs for suspicious command execution patterns and establish regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other storage and infrastructure components.