CVE-2020-7197 in StoreServ Management Console
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2020
SSMC3.7.0.0 is vulnerable to remote authentication bypass. HPE StoreServ Management Console (SSMC) 3.7.0.0 is an off node multiarray manager web application and remains isolated from data on the managed arrays. HPE has provided an update to HPE StoreServ Management Console (SSMC) software 3.7.0.0* Upgrade to HPE 3PAR StoreServ Management Console 3.7.1.1 or later.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7197 affects the HPE StoreServ Management Console version 3.7.0.0, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the management interface. This security weakness exists within the web-based administration application that serves as an off-node multiarray manager, operating independently from the actual data arrays it manages. The SSMC 3.7.0.0 acts as a centralized management platform for HPE 3PAR StoreServ storage systems, providing administrators with the ability to configure, monitor, and maintain multiple storage arrays from a single interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms that fail to properly validate user credentials, creating an exploitable condition that could enable malicious actors to bypass the standard login procedures without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this authentication bypass flaw allows remote attackers to access the management console without providing valid credentials, effectively granting them full administrative privileges over the storage infrastructure. This vulnerability represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the application's access control mechanisms. The flaw enables attackers to perform critical operations including but not limited to modifying storage configurations, accessing sensitive data, creating or deleting volumes, and altering system settings that could impact the availability and integrity of the storage environment. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or the management console itself, making the attack surface significantly broader and more dangerous.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates a potential pathway for data exfiltration, system disruption, and complete compromise of the storage infrastructure. Organizations utilizing HPE StoreServ Management Console 3.7.0.0 are at risk of experiencing unauthorized modifications to storage configurations that could lead to data loss, performance degradation, or complete system unavailability. The vulnerability also poses significant risk to the confidentiality of stored data, as attackers could potentially access and extract sensitive information from managed storage arrays. Additionally, the compromise of the management console could enable attackers to deploy malicious configurations, create backdoors, or establish persistent access points within the storage environment, making the attack more difficult to detect and remediate.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to HPE StoreServ Management Console version 3.7.1.1 or later, as provided by the vendor. This upgrade addresses the authentication bypass flaw through proper credential validation mechanisms and strengthened access controls. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive network segmentation to limit access to the management console, implementation of additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls, firewall rules, and multi-factor authentication mechanisms to add additional layers of protection around the management interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the credential access and privilege escalation tactics, emphasizing the need for robust authentication controls and continuous monitoring of management interfaces.
The remediation process should involve thorough testing of the upgraded software in a controlled environment before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility with existing configurations and operational workflows. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred prior to the patch deployment. The incident response plan should include procedures for investigating unauthorized access attempts, documenting evidence of compromise, and implementing additional security controls to prevent future occurrences. Organizations should also review their overall security posture and consider implementing zero-trust network architectures that minimize the attack surface of management interfaces and reduce the impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future.