CVE-2021-36294 in VNX2 OE for File
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2022
Dell VNX2 OE for File versions 8.1.21.266 and earlier, contain an authentication bypass vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated attacker may exploit this vulnerability by forging a cookie to login as any user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-36294 affects Dell VNX2 Operating Environment for File systems version 8.1.21.266 and earlier, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise storage infrastructures. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of the storage system, where improper session management allows malicious actors to manipulate authentication tokens and gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. The flaw specifically manifests in the cookie handling mechanism, which fails to properly validate session identifiers, enabling attackers to forge authentication cookies that grant full administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and session token generation within the authentication framework. When users attempt to access the web interface, the system generates session cookies that should contain cryptographically secure tokens tied to legitimate user sessions. However, the vulnerable implementation does not adequately verify the integrity of these tokens, allowing attackers to construct forged cookies that appear legitimate to the system. This weakness directly maps to CWE-305 authentication bypass through flawed token validation and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts usage. The vulnerability permits remote exploitation without requiring prior authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged from any network location.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-36294 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected storage arrays. This level of access enables malicious actors to modify storage configurations, create or delete volumes, alter user permissions, and potentially access sensitive data stored on the array. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Dell VNX2 systems for critical data storage operations, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations. Given that storage systems often contain highly sensitive corporate data, the compromise of such systems can result in significant financial losses and reputational damage. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the systems or network proximity, making the attack surface particularly broad and difficult to monitor.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Dell, which address the session management flaw in the web interface. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the storage management interfaces to only authorized administrative workstations. Additional protective measures include enabling multi-factor authentication where supported, implementing strict access controls for management interfaces, and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their storage infrastructure to identify other potential authentication bypass vulnerabilities and ensure proper network monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper session management in web applications and serves as a reminder of the need for robust authentication mechanisms in enterprise storage systems.