CVE-2023-45241 in Acronis
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Sensitive information leak through log files. The following products are affected: Acronis Agent (Linux, macOS, Windows) before build 35739.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45241 represents a critical sensitive information disclosure issue within Acronis Agent software across multiple operating systems. This flaw manifests through improper handling of sensitive data within log files generated by the agent software, creating potential exposure points for confidential information that should remain protected. The affected versions of Acronis Agent prior to build 35739 demonstrate a failure in proper data sanitization and access control mechanisms within their logging infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output filtering within the agent's logging subsystem. When the Acronis Agent processes various operations including backup activities, system monitoring, and configuration management, it generates log entries that contain sensitive information such as authentication credentials, system identifiers, network configurations, or other proprietary data. The flaw occurs because the logging mechanism does not sufficiently sanitize or redact sensitive information before writing it to persistent storage locations. This creates a situation where unauthorized users with access to the log files can directly extract confidential data without requiring additional exploitation techniques.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface for adversaries targeting organizations using affected Acronis Agent versions. The exposed sensitive information could include user credentials, system configurations, network topology details, or other operational data that would provide attackers with substantial advantages for further compromise. The vulnerability affects multiple platforms including Linux, macOS, and Windows environments, indicating a widespread potential impact across diverse computing infrastructures. Security professionals must consider that these log files may be accessible through various attack vectors including direct filesystem access, insider threats, or compromised system accounts.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a classic example of improper information handling within software applications. This weakness falls under the broader category of information disclosure vulnerabilities that can lead to cascading security incidents. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a technique for "Credential Access" through "OS Credential Dumping" or "Data from Configuration Files" depending on the specific sensitive data exposed. Organizations utilizing Acronis Agent software must recognize that this vulnerability could facilitate unauthorized access to critical system resources and potentially enable lateral movement within their networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-45241 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions containing the necessary patches and fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive log file access controls, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access sensitive log data through proper authentication and authorization mechanisms. Regular log file audits should be conducted to identify any potentially exposed sensitive information that may have already been written to disk. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to log files and establish procedures for sanitizing existing log files that may contain exposed sensitive data. Additionally, implementing proper data loss prevention controls and regular security assessments will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other software components within the organization's infrastructure.