CVE-2022-31239 in PowerScale OneFS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2022
Dell PowerScale OneFS, versions 9.0.0 up to and including 9.1.0.19, 9.2.1.12, and 9.3.0.6, contain sensitive data in log files vulnerability. A privileged local user may potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to disclosure of this sensitive data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-31239 affects Dell PowerScale OneFS storage systems across multiple version ranges including 9.0.0 through 9.1.0.19, 9.2.1.12, and 9.3.0.6. This represents a critical security flaw that allows for unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information through log file contents. The vulnerability specifically targets the logging mechanisms within the storage platform, where sensitive data becomes inadvertently exposed in system logs accessible to local users. The affected systems operate within enterprise storage environments where data integrity and confidentiality are paramount, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on these platforms for critical data storage operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive data within the logging subsystem of Dell PowerScale OneFS. When privileged local users access the system logs, they can potentially extract confidential information that should remain protected from unauthorized access. This flaw demonstrates poor input validation and output sanitization practices within the logging framework, where authentication tokens, session identifiers, or other sensitive credentials may be written to log files without proper encryption or obfuscation. The vulnerability falls under the category of information exposure through log files, which aligns with CWE-532, describing the insertion of sensitive information into log files. The specific nature of the flaw suggests that the logging mechanism fails to properly sanitize or filter sensitive data before writing it to persistent storage, creating a direct pathway for information disclosure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations utilizing Dell PowerScale storage platforms, as it provides a potential attack vector for privilege escalation and data exfiltration. A malicious local user with access to the system can exploit this weakness to gain insights into the system's operational environment, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities. The impact extends beyond simple data disclosure, as the leaked information could include authentication credentials, system configurations, or operational details that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability also raises concerns about compliance with security standards such as pci dss and hipaa, where proper handling of sensitive data is mandatory, and unauthorized disclosure could result in regulatory penalties and operational disruptions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling or restricting access to system logs for non-privileged users, implementing log file access controls, and ensuring that sensitive data is properly sanitized before being written to log files. The recommended approach involves configuring the logging subsystem to exclude or encrypt sensitive information, implementing regular log file audits, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring and access logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and proper input/output handling as outlined in the software security development lifecycle standards, particularly addressing the principles of least privilege and defense in depth as referenced in the mitre att&ck framework under the credential access and persistence tactics. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can effectively detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, as the disclosure of sensitive data could have far-reaching consequences for system security and regulatory compliance.