CVE-2020-7473 in ShareFile StorageZones Controller
Summary
by MITRE
In certain situations, all versions of Citrix ShareFile StorageZones (aka storage zones) Controller, including the most recent 5.10.x releases as of May 2020, allow unauthenticated attackers to access the documents and folders of ShareFile users. NOTE: unlike most CVEs, exploitability depends on the product version that was in use when a particular setup step was performed, NOT the product version that is in use during a current assessment of a CVE consumer's product inventory. Specifically, the vulnerability can be exploited if a storage zone was created by one of these product versions: 5.9.0, 5.8.0, 5.7.0, 5.6.0, 5.5.0, or earlier. This CVE differs from CVE-2020-8982 and CVE-2020-8983 but has essentially the same risk.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7473 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Citrix ShareFile StorageZones Controller implementations. This security weakness affects specific versions of the Citrix ShareFile storage zone controller software where the vulnerability can be exploited based on the version used during initial setup rather than current operational versions. The flaw stems from improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthenticated attackers to gain unauthorized access to user documents and folders within ShareFile environments. This particular vulnerability demonstrates how configuration and setup processes can introduce persistent security weaknesses that remain exploitable even after software updates or patches have been applied.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of access control during the storage zone creation process. When storage zones were configured using any of the affected versions 5.9.0, 5.8.0, 5.7.0, 5.6.0, 5.5.0, or earlier, the system failed to properly enforce authentication requirements for subsequent access operations. This creates a persistent backdoor condition where attackers can access user data without proper credentials, fundamentally undermining the security model of the ShareFile platform. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the storage zone controller component that manages user access and data retrieval operations. This flaw aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, which encompasses improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-7473 is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing Citrix ShareFile services. Unauthenticated attackers can access sensitive user data including documents, folders, and potentially personal information stored within the affected storage zones. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in data breaches, privacy violations, and compliance failures. Organizations may experience significant financial and reputational damage from unauthorized data access, particularly in regulated environments where data protection is mandatory. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions means that even organizations with current software versions may remain at risk if their storage zones were originally configured using vulnerable versions. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can remain undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-7473 require immediate action to assess existing storage zone configurations and implement appropriate controls. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify storage zones created with vulnerable versions and implement remediation procedures. The primary mitigation involves reconfiguring storage zones using patched versions of the software or implementing additional access controls to restrict unauthorized access. Security teams should also review and audit existing access controls, implement network segmentation, and monitor for suspicious access patterns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as attackers may leverage this weakness to access legitimate user accounts and potentially expand their access through social engineering. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in their environments.