CVE-2023-28062 in PPDM
Summary
by MITRE • 04/11/2023
Dell PPDM versions 19.12, 19.11 and 19.10, contain an improper access control vulnerability. A remote authenticated malicious user with low privileges could potentially exploit this vulnerability to bypass intended access restrictions and perform unauthorized actions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28062 affects Dell PowerProtect Data Manager (PPDM) versions 19.12, 19.11, and 19.10, representing a critical improper access control flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise data protection systems. This vulnerability resides within the authorization mechanisms of the PPDM platform, which is designed to manage and protect critical data assets across organizations. The flaw allows a remote attacker who has already established authentication credentials to circumvent intended access controls and execute unauthorized operations within the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects multiple versions of the software, indicating a systemic issue within the access control implementation that requires immediate attention from organizations relying on these data protection solutions.
The technical nature of this access control bypass stems from inadequate validation of user permissions and privileges within the PPDM application framework. When authenticated users attempt to perform operations within the system, the vulnerability allows them to escalate their privileges or access functionalities they should not be authorized to use. This typically occurs due to insufficient input validation, improper session management, or flawed authorization checks that fail to properly verify user entitlements before granting access to sensitive operations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this weakness from external networks without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such systems are often exposed to external networks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations utilizing Dell PPDM for their data protection needs. An attacker with low-privilege credentials could potentially access backup configurations, modify data protection policies, or even perform destructive operations such as deleting backup data or altering system configurations. The potential for data loss or corruption is substantial, as the attacker could manipulate backup schedules, access restricted data sets, or disable protection mechanisms entirely. Additionally, the vulnerability could enable lateral movement within the network if the PPDM system integrates with other enterprise systems, potentially allowing attackers to pivot to other network segments where they might have higher privileges.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for affected PPDM versions, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the PPDM system, and conducting thorough privilege reviews to ensure that users have only the minimum necessary access rights. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation. Security teams should also implement enhanced monitoring of PPDM system access logs to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given the remote nature of the vulnerability, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems and firewall rules that restrict unnecessary access to PPDM management interfaces, particularly from external networks where such attacks are most likely to originate.