CVE-2024-29170 in PowerScale OneFS
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2024
Dell PowerScale OneFS versions 8.2.x through 9.8.0.x contain a use of hard coded credentials vulnerability. An adjacent network unauthenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to information disclosure of network traffic and denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-29170 affects Dell PowerScale OneFS storage systems across versions 8.2.x through 9.8.0.x, representing a critical security flaw that stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials within the system's network services. This issue manifests as the presence of hard coded credentials within the software implementation, a practice that violates fundamental security principles and creates persistent attack vectors for malicious actors. The flaw resides in the system's network protocol handling mechanisms where default credentials are embedded directly into the firmware or software components, making them accessible to any entity capable of reaching the system over the network. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-798 indicates the presence of hardcoded credentials, while its operational impact aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning. This weakness creates a persistent backdoor that remains active regardless of system updates or user credential changes, fundamentally undermining the security model of the storage platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an adjacent network attacker who can communicate with the target system without authentication requirements. This scenario typically involves attackers positioned within the same network segment or those who have achieved network access through other means such as compromised network devices or successful phishing campaigns. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the hard coded credentials are likely used for system administration functions, network protocol authentication, or internal communication mechanisms between system components. When exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to establish unauthorized access to the storage system's network services, potentially allowing them to view network traffic passing through the system, manipulate storage operations, or disrupt service availability. The information disclosure aspect of this vulnerability could expose sensitive data flows, while the denial of service component may allow attackers to compromise system availability through various service disruption techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-29170 extends beyond immediate security breaches to encompass broader network infrastructure risks and compliance violations. Organizations utilizing affected Dell PowerScale systems face potential data exposure risks where network traffic analysis could reveal sensitive information, including user credentials, file contents, or system configuration details. The denial of service component creates additional operational challenges as attackers could potentially render storage services unavailable to legitimate users, causing business disruption and requiring emergency response measures. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where storage systems serve as critical infrastructure components, making the impact more severe for organizations that depend on continuous data availability. The persistence of hard coded credentials means that even after patching other system vulnerabilities or implementing additional security controls, the system remains vulnerable until the embedded credentials are properly removed or changed. Organizations must also consider regulatory compliance implications, as this vulnerability could violate data protection requirements under standards such as gdpr, hipaa, or pci dss, depending on the nature of data being stored and transmitted through the affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-29170 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation controls to limit access to affected systems, particularly by restricting direct network access to storage infrastructure from untrusted networks. The most effective immediate solution involves applying vendor-provided patches or firmware updates that remove or properly configure the hard coded credentials within the affected systems. Security teams should also implement network monitoring solutions to detect unusual traffic patterns or authentication attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify other instances of hard coded credentials within the organization's infrastructure, as this vulnerability represents a common pattern that may exist in other software components. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege controls and regular credential rotation policies can help reduce the impact of similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on known exploitation patterns associated with hardcoded credential vulnerabilities, while maintaining detailed audit logs of all authentication attempts and network service access for forensic analysis purposes. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing network services or storage operations, while also verifying that no other system components rely on the removed credentials for proper operation.