CVE-2022-35787 in Azure Site Recovery VMWare to Azure
Summary
by MITRE • 08/10/2022
Azure Site Recovery Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2022-35774, CVE-2022-35775, CVE-2022-35780, CVE-2022-35781, CVE-2022-35782, CVE-2022-35783, CVE-2022-35784, CVE-2022-35785, CVE-2022-35786, CVE-2022-35788, CVE-2022-35789, CVE-2022-35790, CVE-2022-35791, CVE-2022-35799, CVE-2022-35800, CVE-2022-35801, CVE-2022-35802, CVE-2022-35807, CVE-2022-35808, CVE-2022-35809, CVE-2022-35810, CVE-2022-35811, CVE-2022-35812, CVE-2022-35813, CVE-2022-35814, CVE-2022-35815, CVE-2022-35816, CVE-2022-35817, CVE-2022-35818, CVE-2022-35819.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2022
The Azure Site Recovery service vulnerability described in CVE-2022-35787 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw that allows authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges within the Azure environment. This vulnerability specifically affects the Azure Site Recovery component responsible for disaster recovery and backup operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to elevated system privileges. The flaw exists within the service's permission handling mechanisms and authentication validation processes, potentially enabling attackers to execute privileged operations that should be restricted to authorized administrators only.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-269 weakness category, which specifically addresses "Improper Privilege Management" within software systems. The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient validation of user permissions and roles during critical operations within the Site Recovery service. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that bypass normal access controls, effectively allowing them to perform administrative functions without proper authorization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within a service that handles sensitive backup and recovery operations, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to critical infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-35787 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to manipulate backup configurations, access protected data, and potentially compromise entire recovery environments. Organizations using Azure Site Recovery for disaster recovery planning face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it could allow attackers to disrupt business continuity processes or gain access to sensitive backup data. The attack surface includes scenarios where attackers might already have some level of access to the Azure environment but lack administrative privileges, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with shared or multi-tenant environments.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the privilege escalation technique T1068, specifically targeting cloud-based systems through service misconfigurations. The exploitation pattern aligns with T1566, where attackers leverage service vulnerabilities to gain initial access or elevate existing privileges. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability can be combined with other attack vectors, potentially enabling more sophisticated compromise scenarios including data exfiltration, lateral movement, and persistent access within the Azure environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-35787 require immediate attention from Azure administrators, including applying the latest security patches provided by Microsoft to address the privilege management flaw. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring of Site Recovery service operations, particularly around privilege escalation attempts and unusual administrative activities. Network segmentation and just-in-time access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation, while regular security audits should verify that proper access controls are in place. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations and implementing robust identity and access management practices within cloud environments, particularly for services handling critical backup and recovery operations.