CVE-2023-44279 in PowerProtect DD
Summary
by MITRE • 12/14/2023
Dell PowerProtect DD , versions prior to 7.13.0.10, LTS 7.7.5.25, LTS 7.10.1.15, 6.2.1.110 contain an OS command injection vulnerability in administrator CLI. A local high privileged attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability, to bypass security restrictions. Exploitation may lead to a system take over by an attacker
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-44279 affects Dell PowerProtect Data Domain systems running versions prior to specific patch levels including 7.13.0.10, LTS 7.7.5.25, LTS 7.10.1.15, and 6.2.1.110. This represents a critical security flaw that resides within the administrator command-line interface of these storage protection systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before executing operating system commands. This flaw allows for arbitrary command execution within the context of the privileged administrative interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-78, which specifically addresses OS Command Injection flaws. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage maliciously crafted input through the CLI to inject and execute arbitrary operating system commands on the target system. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local access with high privileged administrative credentials, making it a privilege escalation vector rather than a remote attack surface. However, the impact remains severe as the attacker already possesses elevated privileges within the system environment.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Dell PowerProtect Data Domain systems for their data protection infrastructure. The potential for complete system compromise exists when an attacker successfully exploits this flaw, as the administrative CLI operates with elevated privileges that can bypass standard security restrictions. This allows for unauthorized modification of system configurations, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent access points within the network environment. The attack vector specifically targets the command-line interface, which is typically used for system maintenance, configuration management, and administrative tasks.
The security implications extend beyond immediate system compromise to encompass broader enterprise risk management considerations. Organizations utilizing these systems face potential data loss, regulatory compliance violations, and operational disruption if this vulnerability is exploited. The attack surface is limited to local access with administrative privileges, but this requirement does not diminish the severity of impact. The vulnerability represents a critical gap in the security architecture of the PowerProtect Data Domain systems, as it undermines the principle of least privilege and allows for complete administrative control. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patches, implementation of network segmentation to limit local access, and enhanced monitoring of administrative CLI activities. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure proper access controls are maintained for administrative interfaces.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices within administrative interfaces. The flaw highlights the need for continuous security testing and vulnerability management processes, particularly for systems handling critical data protection functions. Organizations should implement robust security controls including privileged access management, regular security audits, and comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of administrative interfaces for unauthorized system control.