CVE-2022-28162 in SANnav
Summary
by MITRE • 05/09/2022
Brocade SANnav before version SANnav 2.2.0 logs the REST API Authentication token in plain text.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28162 affects Brocade SANnav versions prior to 2.2.0, specifically targeting the REST API authentication mechanism. This flaw represents a critical security oversight in the network infrastructure management software that governs storage area networks. The issue manifests when the system logs authentication tokens in plaintext format, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security principles of credential protection and access control.
The technical flaw resides in the logging implementation of the REST API authentication process within the Brocade SANnav platform. When users authenticate to the system through the REST API, the authentication tokens are captured and stored in log files without any form of encryption or obfuscation. This plaintext logging occurs during normal operational procedures and persists in the system's audit trails, making sensitive authentication credentials readily accessible to any entity with access to the log files. The vulnerability directly violates established security practices and constitutes a failure in proper credential handling as outlined in security frameworks such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted across enterprise storage environments. Attackers who gain access to the system's log files can immediately extract valid authentication tokens and use them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to the storage network management interface. This compromises the integrity of the entire SAN infrastructure, potentially enabling data exfiltration, unauthorized configuration changes, and privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability also creates a persistent threat vector since these tokens remain valid until expiration or system restart, providing attackers with extended access windows. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this represents a credential access technique that could lead to lateral movement and persistence within the network environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28162 require immediate implementation of both immediate and long-term security measures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to Brocade SANnav version 2.2.0 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the plaintext logging issue. System administrators must also implement strict access controls on log file directories, ensuring that only authorized personnel have read access to these sensitive files. Additional protective measures include implementing log rotation with automatic deletion of authentication-related entries, configuring centralized logging with proper access controls, and establishing monitoring systems to detect unauthorized access attempts to log files. Network segmentation and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize the potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output sanitization as defined in CWE-20 and CWE-77, emphasizing that logging systems must never store sensitive information in an unencrypted format.