CVE-2021-43587 in PowerPath Management Appliance
Summary
by MITRE • 12/21/2021
Dell PowerPath Management Appliance, versions 3.2, 3.1, 3.0 P01, 3.0, and 2.6, use hard-coded cryptographic key. A local high-privileged malicious user may potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain access to secrets and elevate to gain higher privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2021
The Dell PowerPath Management Appliance vulnerability CVE-2021-43587 represents a critical cryptographic weakness that undermines the security posture of storage management systems. This flaw affects multiple versions of Dell's PowerPath Management Appliance including 3.2, 3.1, 3.0 P01, 3.0, and 2.6, indicating a widespread issue across the product lineage. The vulnerability stems from the use of hard-coded cryptographic keys within the appliance's software implementation, which violates fundamental security principles and creates persistent attack vectors that persist across system reboots and updates.
The technical flaw manifests through the inclusion of static cryptographic keys within the appliance's codebase, eliminating the dynamic generation of secure encryption materials that should be standard practice. This hard-coded approach means that any individual who gains access to the appliance's software components or can inspect the running processes can potentially extract these cryptographic keys. According to CWE-320, this vulnerability maps directly to weak cryptographic key management practices where keys are stored in a manner that makes them easily accessible to unauthorized users. The implications extend beyond simple credential exposure as these keys could potentially decrypt sensitive data, forge authentication tokens, or enable unauthorized access to underlying storage systems managed by PowerPath.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on Dell PowerPath Management Appliances for storage infrastructure management. A local high-privileged malicious user who already possesses elevated system access can exploit this weakness to escalate privileges further, potentially gaining root access or administrative control over the entire appliance. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where storage management appliances serve as critical infrastructure components. The attack surface expands when considering that such appliances typically manage access to enterprise storage arrays, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access to core data infrastructure. According to ATT&CK framework's T1552.001 technique, this vulnerability enables credential access through the compromise of stored credentials, while T1068 represents the privilege escalation potential that could result from exploiting the hard-coded keys.
Organizations affected by CVE-2021-43587 should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Dell PowerPath Management Appliance, reviewing system access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The recommended approach involves comprehensive system hardening measures, including disabling unnecessary services, implementing strict access controls, and conducting regular security assessments of the appliance's operational environment. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation to limit access to these appliances and implement continuous monitoring for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper key management practices and the dangers of embedding cryptographic materials directly into software code, serving as a reminder that secure system design requires careful attention to cryptographic implementation details.