CVE-2024-28971 in Update Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/08/2024
Dell Update Manager Plugin, versions 1.4.0 through 1.5.0, contains a Plain-text Password Storage Vulnerability in Log file. A remote high privileged attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to the disclosure of certain user credentials. The attacker may be able to use the exposed credentials to access the vulnerable application with privileges of the compromised account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28971 affects Dell Update Manager Plugin versions 1.4.0 through 1.5.0, representing a critical security flaw in how the software handles credential storage within its logging mechanisms. This issue falls under the category of insecure credential storage, specifically manifesting as plain-text password storage in log files, which creates a significant attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers with high privileged access to potentially extract sensitive authentication information from log files, thereby compromising user accounts and system security. The flaw exists in the plugin's logging functionality where authentication credentials are written in an easily readable format rather than being properly encrypted or hashed, making it a direct violation of security best practices for credential management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to employ proper cryptographic measures when storing authentication credentials in log files. When the Dell Update Manager Plugin processes user authentication requests, it appears to write sensitive information including passwords or authentication tokens directly to log files in plain text format. This design flaw creates an opportunity for attackers who can access these log files to extract credentials without requiring additional exploitation techniques. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-312 (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) which specifically addresses the insecure storage of sensitive data in an easily readable format. The exposure of credentials through log files represents a fundamental breach in the principle of least privilege and secure credential handling, as the system fails to implement proper access controls or encryption for sensitive data at rest.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to compromised accounts with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise or lateral movement within network environments. The remote nature of the attack vector means that an attacker does not require physical access to the system to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the Dell Update Manager Plugin. The exposed credentials could be used to access not only the Dell Update Manager application but also potentially other systems where the same credentials are reused, creating a cascading security risk. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the affected systems, as it allows unauthorized access to privileged accounts and could enable further attacks such as privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or system manipulation. The impact extends beyond individual account compromise to potentially affect entire organizational security postures when credentials are reused across multiple systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-28971 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Dell Update Manager Plugin versions to address the plain-text password storage issue in log files. Organizations should implement comprehensive log file access controls to restrict unauthorized access to credential information and consider implementing log file encryption or redaction mechanisms to prevent sensitive data exposure. The remediation process should include disabling or modifying the logging functionality that writes credentials to log files, ensuring that authentication information is either properly encrypted or completely excluded from log output. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual access patterns to log files and establish incident response procedures for credential exposure events. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other systems that might be storing credentials in plain text and ensure proper credential rotation practices are implemented. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure software development, particularly regarding secure credential handling and logging practices. This issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1566 (Phishing) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers could leverage exposed credentials to establish persistent access to systems, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches and regular security assessments to prevent credential-based attacks.