CVE-2021-36282 in PowerScale OneFS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2021
Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS versions 8.2.x - 9.1.0.x contain a use of uninitialized resource vulnerability. This can potentially allow an authenticated user with ISI_PRIV_LOGIN_CONSOLE or ISI_PRIV_LOGIN_SSH privileges to gain access up to 24 bytes of data within the /ifs kernel stack under certain conditions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-36282 affects Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS storage systems across versions 8.2.x through 9.1.0.x, representing a critical use of uninitialized resource flaw that compromises system security through improper memory handling. This vulnerability resides within the kernel space of the operating system and specifically impacts the /ifs filesystem implementation, creating potential information disclosure risks that could be exploited by authenticated attackers with limited privileges.
The technical flaw manifests when the system processes certain authentication requests, particularly those involving console login or ssh access, where uninitialized memory values are accessed and potentially exposed to users. The vulnerability allows an authenticated user with either ISI_PRIV_LOGIN_CONSOLE or ISI_PRIV_LOGIN_SSH privileges to potentially read up to 24 bytes of data from the kernel stack memory space, which may contain sensitive information such as memory addresses, system configuration details, or other confidential data that could aid in further exploitation attempts. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to information disclosure and potentially more severe consequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to gather intelligence about the system's internal state and memory layout. An attacker with the specified privileges could potentially use this information to craft more sophisticated attacks, including buffer overflow exploitation or privilege escalation attempts. The exposure of kernel stack data could reveal memory layout patterns that would aid in bypassing security mitigations such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where attackers might be able to escalate their privileges through additional attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-36282 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Dell EMC PowerScale systems to the latest available firmware versions that address the uninitialized resource handling issue. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these systems, ensuring that only authorized personnel with legitimate business needs can access the console or ssh interfaces. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or attempts to access system resources that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify other potential memory safety issues within the system's kernel components, following best practices outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for operating system security vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory initialization practices in kernel space code and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of storage system components, particularly those handling authentication and access control functions.