CVE-2022-33928 in Wyse Management Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 08/10/2022
Dell Wyse Management Suite 3.6.1 and below contains an Plain-text Password Storage Vulnerability in UI. An attacker with low privileges could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to the disclosure of certain user credentials. The attacker may be able to use the exposed credentials to access the vulnerable application with privileges of the compromised account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2022
The Dell Wyse Management Suite represents a comprehensive solution for managing and monitoring edge computing devices in enterprise environments. This vulnerability affects versions 3.6.1 and earlier, where the user interface implementation stores passwords in plain text format rather than employing proper cryptographic protection mechanisms. The flaw exists within the application's credential handling processes, specifically in how it manages user authentication data within its graphical interface components. Security researchers identified that when users enter credentials into the management suite's web-based interface, these values are stored in an unencrypted state within memory or configuration files, creating a significant exposure point for unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and secure credential storage practices within the application's architecture. The system fails to apply industry-standard encryption mechanisms for password storage, instead maintaining credentials in readable format which directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Special Publication 800-63B. This plain-text storage creates a persistent exposure window where any individual with access to the application's memory dumps, configuration files, or temporary storage locations can directly extract user credentials without requiring additional cryptographic attacks or complex exploitation techniques. The vulnerability specifically impacts the user interface components where authentication information is processed and stored, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with a direct path to elevated privileges within the management suite environment. An attacker with low privileges can exploit this weakness to gain access to other user accounts and potentially escalate their privileges within the system. This creates a cascading security risk where compromised credentials can be used to access additional network resources, manipulate device configurations, or conduct further reconnaissance activities against connected edge devices. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1550.001 for valid accounts and T1078 for legitimate credentials, as it enables unauthorized access using compromised authentication data rather than bypassing authentication entirely. Organizations using this management suite face significant risk of unauthorized access to their edge computing infrastructure, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through patching to the latest version of the Dell Wyse Management Suite where the plain-text storage issue has been addressed. System administrators must implement additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts and credential exposure events within the management environment. The implementation of multi-factor authentication and privileged access management controls can help reduce the impact of credential compromise. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their edge device management infrastructure to identify similar plain-text storage vulnerabilities in other components. Security controls should include regular credential rotation policies, enhanced access logging, and network segmentation to limit the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input sanitization and encryption mechanisms as outlined in CWE-312 and CWE-522 categories, which specifically address insecure data storage and weak credential handling respectively.