CVE-2022-41320 in System Recovery
Summary
by MITRE • 09/23/2022
Veritas System Recovery (VSR) versions 18 and 21 store a network destination password in the Windows registry during configuration of the backup configuration. This vulnerability could provide a Windows user (who has sufficient privileges) to access a network file system that they were not authorized to access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2025
Veritas System Recovery versions 18 and 21 contain a critical configuration flaw that exposes network credentials through improper storage mechanisms within the Windows operating system registry. This vulnerability represents a classic case of insecure credential storage where authentication information is persisted in plaintext format, creating an inherent security risk that directly violates established security principles. The flaw occurs during the backup configuration process when the system automatically writes network destination passwords to registry keys that are accessible to local users with appropriate privileges. This behavior aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data storage mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly secure authentication credentials during the configuration phase. When users configure network backup destinations, the system stores the password in the Windows registry without implementing adequate encryption or access controls. This creates a situation where any Windows user with sufficient privileges can access these registry entries and extract the stored credentials. The vulnerability demonstrates poor privilege separation and violates the principle of least privilege, as the registry entries containing sensitive information are not properly protected from unauthorized access. Attackers who can execute code with local user privileges can leverage this weakness to gain access to network file systems they would otherwise be denied access to, effectively bypassing network-level security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of network backup operations. Organizations using affected Veritas System Recovery versions face significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors who gain local access to systems running the affected software, potentially leading to data exfiltration or unauthorized access to sensitive network resources. This weakness particularly affects environments where backup systems are configured with high-privilege credentials, as the exposure of these credentials can provide attackers with persistent access to critical network resources. The impact is compounded by the fact that registry-based credential storage is often overlooked during security assessments and penetration testing phases, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through official patches provided by Veritas, which are expected to address the credential storage mechanism and implement proper encryption or access controls. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems running affected versions and implement registry access controls to limit exposure of sensitive credential entries. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting registry access permissions for backup configuration entries and ensuring that only authorized administrators can modify these critical system components. Additionally, security teams should implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to registry keys containing credential information, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1012 for registry run keys and T1566 for credential access. Network segmentation and the use of dedicated backup accounts with minimal required privileges can further reduce the potential impact of credential exposure, while regular security audits should verify that credential storage practices meet industry standards for secure configuration management.