CVE-2021-43590 in Enterprise Storage Analytics for vRealize Operations
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2022
Dell EMC Enterprise Storage Analytics for vRealize Operations, versions 4.0.1 to 6.2.1, contain a Plain-text password storage vulnerability. A local high privileged malicious user may potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to the disclosure of certain user credentials. The attacker may be able to use the exposed credentials to access the vulnerable application with privileges of the compromised account.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-43590 affects Dell EMC Enterprise Storage Analytics for vRealize Operations within a specific version range from 4.0.1 through 6.2.1. This represents a critical security flaw that compromises the integrity of credential storage mechanisms within the application. The vulnerability manifests as a weakness in how the system handles password storage, creating an environment where sensitive authentication data can be exposed to unauthorized parties. The affected software operates within the enterprise storage analytics domain, making it a target for attackers seeking to exploit privileged access points within storage infrastructure management systems. The vulnerability's presence in this specific product line indicates a design flaw that allows for the persistence of plaintext credentials within the application's configuration or data storage layers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication credentials within the application's internal storage mechanisms. When user credentials are stored in plain text format rather than being properly encrypted or hashed, they become immediately accessible to any user with sufficient privileges to read the relevant storage locations. This flaw typically occurs when developers fail to implement proper cryptographic controls during the application's development lifecycle, particularly in areas where configuration files or database entries store authentication information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of plaintext credentials. This weakness allows for direct credential extraction without requiring complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local privilege escalation is possible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with potential access to elevated privileges within the storage analytics environment. A malicious user with local high privileges can exploit this flaw to extract stored credentials and subsequently use them to access the application with the privileges of the compromised account. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where storage analytics systems contain sensitive operational data and administrative access to critical storage infrastructure. The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to storage configurations, monitoring data, and potentially compromise the broader storage network. Attackers may leverage these credentials to perform actions such as modifying storage policies, accessing sensitive performance metrics, or even manipulating storage operations to cause service disruption or data compromise. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the analytics system serves as a central point for storage management and monitoring activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-43590 must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should immediately upgrade to versions of Dell EMC Enterprise Storage Analytics for vRealize Operations that have addressed this vulnerability, as Dell has likely released patches or newer versions that implement proper credential encryption mechanisms. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of credential storage locations within the application to identify and remediate any remaining plaintext password entries. The implementation of proper cryptographic controls including secure hashing algorithms and encrypted credential storage should be enforced throughout the application's configuration management processes. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to credential storage areas and establish regular security assessments to identify potential credential exposure vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to security best practices outlined in frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53, which emphasizes the need for proper data protection and credential management controls. The attack surface can be reduced by implementing principle of least privilege access controls and ensuring that only necessary personnel have local access to systems containing sensitive credential information. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms and centralized credential management systems to reduce the risk of credential compromise even if local storage vulnerabilities exist.