CVE-2022-22556 in PowerStore
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2022
Dell PowerStore contains an Uncontrolled Resource Consumption Vulnerability in PowerStore User Interface. A remote unauthenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to the Denial of Service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2022
The CVE-2022-22556 vulnerability represents a critical uncontrolled resource consumption flaw within Dell PowerStore storage arrays, specifically affecting the PowerStore User Interface component. This vulnerability resides in the web-based management interface that administrators and users interact with to configure and monitor storage systems. The flaw allows for excessive resource utilization through crafted requests that can cause the system to consume disproportionate amounts of CPU, memory, or other critical system resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the user interface layer, which is typically accessible over standard network ports and may be exposed to external networks without proper authentication mechanisms.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability manifests as a resource exhaustion condition where an attacker can submit malicious input or requests that trigger the PowerStore UI to consume excessive computational resources. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any remote user can potentially exploit this flaw without requiring valid credentials or prior access to the system. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which specifically addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" or "Resource Exhaustion" conditions that can lead to denial of service scenarios. The vulnerability affects the availability aspect of the security triad by potentially rendering the management interface unusable or causing the underlying system to become unresponsive.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-22556 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire storage infrastructure management capabilities. When exploited, this vulnerability can render the PowerStore management interface inaccessible, preventing authorized administrators from performing critical maintenance, monitoring, or configuration tasks. The denial of service condition affects not only the user interface but may also impact the underlying system stability, potentially causing cascading failures in storage operations. Organizations relying on PowerStore systems for mission-critical data storage face significant operational risks, as administrators lose the ability to manage their storage resources during an attack. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where storage management interfaces are frequently accessed and where service availability is paramount for business continuity.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1499 category for "Network Denial of Service" and potentially T1566 for "Phishing" if the attack vector involves social engineering to gain initial access. The vulnerability's exposure through the web interface makes it susceptible to automated scanning and exploitation by threat actors. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to the PowerStore management interfaces, applying the latest firmware updates from Dell, and implementing proper access controls. The recommended approach involves disabling unnecessary network services, configuring firewalls to restrict access to management ports, and monitoring for unusual resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should establish incident response procedures to quickly detect and respond to potential exploitation of this vulnerability.