CVE-2022-29090 in Wyse Management Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 08/10/2022
Dell Wyse Management Suite 3.6.1 and below contains a Sensitive Data Exposure vulnerability. A low privileged malicious user could potentially exploit this vulnerability in order to obtain credentials. The attacker may be able to use the exposed credentials to access the target device and perform unauthorized actions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-29090 affects Dell Wyse Management Suite version 3.6.1 and earlier releases, representing a critical sensitive data exposure flaw that compromises system security. This vulnerability resides within the management suite's architecture and manifests as an insufficient access control mechanism that allows unauthorized users to access credential information. The Dell Wyse Management Suite serves as a centralized management platform for deploying, configuring, and monitoring Wyse thin client devices, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate their privileges and gain broader network access. The exposed credentials could potentially provide attackers with administrative access to managed devices, enabling them to manipulate configurations, install malicious software, or extract sensitive data from the network.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the suite's authentication and authorization framework. Attackers with low privileged access can exploit this weakness to bypass normal security controls and retrieve stored credentials through crafted requests or by exploiting improper session management. The flaw likely involves improper handling of authentication tokens, session identifiers, or direct exposure of credential storage mechanisms. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure" and specifically addresses situations where sensitive information is exposed to unauthorized actors. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple credential theft, as the exposed credentials can be leveraged for lateral movement within the network, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access and escalate privileges across multiple systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Dell Wyse Management Suite for device management, particularly in environments with limited network segmentation or robust monitoring controls. The low privilege requirement for exploitation means that attackers need minimal initial access to potentially gain substantial control over managed devices. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts," and T1566.002, which addresses "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment," as attackers can use exposed credentials to establish legitimate access to the management platform. Organizations utilizing this suite may experience unauthorized device configuration changes, data exfiltration, or complete compromise of the managed device fleet. The exposure could lead to extended periods of undetected compromise, as attackers can maintain access using the legitimate credentials without triggering typical authentication-based alerts.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available version of Dell Wyse Management Suite, which addresses the credential exposure issue. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate the management suite from critical network segments and enforce strict access controls through role-based permissions. Additional defensive measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for management access, monitoring for unusual credential usage patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of the management infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and credential handling practices, as outlined in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001. Organizations should also consider implementing automated credential rotation mechanisms and robust audit logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for administrators and monitoring of network traffic for suspicious credential-related activities can further reduce the risk associated with this vulnerability.