CVE-2023-22817 in My Cloud OS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2024
Server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability that could allow a rogue server on the local network to modify its URL using another DNS address to point back to the loopback adapter. This could then allow the URL to exploit other vulnerabilities on the local server. This was addressed by fixing DNS addresses that refer to loopback. This issue affects My Cloud OS 5 devices before 5.27.161, My Cloud Home, My Cloud Home Duo and SanDisk ibi devices before 9.5.1-104.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2024
The CVE-2023-22817 vulnerability represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw that specifically targets My Cloud OS 5 devices and related SanDisk storage systems. This vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of DNS addresses within the device's network communication protocols, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate network requests. The flaw allows an attacker positioned on the local network to exploit DNS resolution behavior to redirect requests to loopback addresses, effectively bypassing normal network boundaries and creating an attack surface that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how the affected devices handle DNS resolution for server requests. When a device processes a URL that resolves to a loopback address through DNS manipulation, it fails to properly validate whether the resolved address represents a legitimate network endpoint or a local system interface. This validation gap enables attackers to craft malicious URLs that appear to point to external resources but actually resolve to localhost or 127.0.0.1 addresses. The vulnerability specifically affects devices that do not properly sanitize DNS responses that could resolve to loopback interfaces, creating a direct pathway for internal network reconnaissance and exploitation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to local network security as it allows attackers to potentially access internal services that would normally be protected by network segmentation. The attack vector requires local network access, which means that even if the device is not directly exposed to the internet, internal network compromise can lead to unauthorized access to local services, potentially including administrative interfaces, file systems, or other network resources. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-918, which addresses server-side request forgery in the context of network boundary violations and improper input validation. The impact extends beyond simple data access, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to leverage other vulnerabilities present on the local server, creating a chain of compromise that could escalate to full system control.
The remediation for this vulnerability involves implementing proper DNS address validation that specifically filters out loopback addresses and other restricted network interfaces from being used in server requests. This fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that DNS resolution results are validated against a whitelist of acceptable network endpoints, preventing any redirection to localhost or loopback interfaces. Organizations should prioritize updating their affected devices to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory, specifically versions 5.27.161 for My Cloud OS 5 devices and 9.5.1-104 for SanDisk ibi devices. The fix demonstrates the importance of network boundary validation and proper input sanitization in preventing lateral movement attacks within local networks. This vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which covers application layer protocol: DNS, as it exploits DNS resolution behavior to achieve unauthorized access. Given that this affects network-attached storage devices, the vulnerability underscores the need for proper network segmentation and access controls, particularly in environments where such devices are used for critical data storage and backup operations.