CVE-2022-34371 in PowerScale OneFS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/02/2022
Dell PowerScale OneFS, versions 9.0.0 up to and including 9.1.0.19, 9.2.1.12, 9.3.0.6, and 9.4.0.3, contain an unprotected transport of credentials vulnerability. A malicious unprivileged network attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to full system compromise.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-34371 affects Dell PowerScale OneFS storage systems across multiple version ranges including 9.0.0 through 9.1.0.19, 9.2.1.12, 9.3.0.6, and 9.4.0.3. This represents a critical security flaw that resides in the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the storage platform. The vulnerability manifests as an unprotected transport of credentials, which means that sensitive authentication information flows through the network without proper encryption or protection measures. This weakness creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors positioned within the network environment.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of credential transmission within the OneFS platform's network protocols. When authentication tokens, usernames, passwords, or other sensitive authentication data are transmitted between network components, they are not adequately secured using encryption mechanisms. This allows an unprivileged attacker who has network access to intercept these credentials during transmission. The vulnerability specifically affects the transport layer security of the storage system's communication channels, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network traffic is not properly segmented or monitored.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for organizations relying on Dell PowerScale systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains access to the authentication credentials used by the storage system, which could lead to complete system compromise. This means the attacker could potentially gain full administrative privileges, access all stored data, modify storage configurations, and perform unauthorized operations on the storage infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor into the core storage platform, undermining the fundamental security posture of the organization's data infrastructure.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-312, which describes the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of credentials during transport. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts through compromised credentials, and T1566, which encompasses phishing and social engineering attacks that can lead to credential compromise. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate storage systems, deployment of network monitoring tools to detect credential interception attempts, and enforcement of strong encryption protocols for all network communications. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to patched versions of the OneFS software where the vulnerable credential transport mechanisms have been properly secured with encryption and authentication protections.