CVE-2022-23155 in Wyse Management Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2022
Dell Wyse Management Suite versions 2.0 through 3.5.2 contain an unrestricted file upload vulnerability. A malicious user with admin privileges can exploit this vulnerability in order to execute arbitrary code on the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2022
The Dell Wyse Management Suite represents a comprehensive endpoint management solution designed for organizations to centrally manage and monitor their thin clients and edge devices. This platform serves as a critical component in enterprise IT infrastructure, providing functionalities for device provisioning, configuration management, and remote administration of Wyse thin client devices. The vulnerability under analysis affects versions ranging from 2.0 through 3.5.2, indicating a significant attack surface that could impact numerous enterprise environments relying on this management platform. The affected system operates as a centralized management interface that aggregates data from multiple endpoints, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise networks.
This unrestricted file upload vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the file upload mechanisms of the management suite. The flaw allows authenticated administrators to upload malicious files without proper sanitization or validation checks, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution on the underlying system. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly validate file types, extensions, or content during the upload process, enabling attackers to bypass security controls designed to prevent the upload of potentially dangerous file formats. This represents a classic security misconfiguration that undermines the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, aligning with CWE-434 which specifically addresses unrestricted file upload vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides a direct path to system compromise for authenticated attackers with administrative privileges. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the management suite service account, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network. The attack vector requires only administrative access, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to vulnerabilities requiring initial access through external vectors. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrative credentials might be compromised through social engineering, credential theft, or other attack methods, as the attacker can immediately escalate privileges and execute malicious code without additional reconnaissance or exploitation steps.
Organizations utilizing Dell Wyse Management Suite versions 2.0 through 3.5.2 should prioritize immediate remediation through official vendor patches and updates. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter execution, as well as T1566 for credential harvesting, representing a critical threat that requires immediate attention. Security teams should implement network segmentation to limit access to the management suite, enforce strict administrative access controls, and monitor for suspicious file upload activities. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this class of vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure operational stability while addressing the security risk effectively.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in enterprise management platforms. The flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in security controls that should have been implemented during the development lifecycle, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing and code reviews. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, file type restrictions, and automated monitoring systems to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining current security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against both external and internal threats, particularly in management systems that provide privileged access to critical infrastructure components.