CVE-2024-7516 in Fabric OS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/12/2024
A vulnerability in Brocade Fabric OS versions before 9.2.2 could allow man-in-the-middle attackers to conduct remote Service Session Hijacking that may arise from the attacker's ability to forge an SSH key while the Brocade Fabric OS Switch is performing various remote operations initiated by a switch admin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7516 represents a critical security flaw in Brocade Fabric OS software versions prior to 9.2.2 that enables man-in-the-middle attack scenarios through service session hijacking. This weakness specifically targets the authentication mechanisms employed during remote operations initiated by switch administrators, creating an avenue for attackers to intercept and manipulate network communications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient cryptographic validation processes that allow malicious actors to forge SSH keys during legitimate remote sessions, effectively compromising the integrity of the authentication process.
From a technical perspective, the flaw resides in the improper handling of cryptographic signatures and key validation procedures within the Brocade Fabric OS switch implementation. When administrators perform remote operations through SSH connections, the system fails to adequately verify the authenticity of the SSH key presented by connecting parties. This cryptographic weakness creates a window of opportunity for attackers positioned within the network to intercept legitimate communication streams and substitute their own forged keys. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level where SSH key exchange mechanisms are not sufficiently hardened against spoofing attempts, aligning with CWE-310 cryptographic weakness classifications.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-7516 extends beyond simple session hijacking to potentially enable full administrative control over affected Brocade switches. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to switch management interfaces, modify network configurations, disrupt services, and potentially escalate privileges within the fabric environment. This risk is particularly severe in data center and enterprise network environments where Brocade switches serve as critical infrastructure components for storage area network connectivity and fabric management. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security posture of network operations, as it undermines trust in remote administrative sessions that are essential for switch maintenance and configuration management.
Network security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the T1021.004 technique for remote services and T1566 for credential harvesting. The attack vector leverages network traffic interception capabilities to compromise authentication mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network monitoring and intrusion detection systems may not adequately detect such subtle cryptographic attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Brocade Fabric OS 9.2.2 or later versions, implementing additional network segmentation measures, and strengthening monitoring procedures for unusual SSH key exchanges. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date network infrastructure software and implementing robust cryptographic validation processes to prevent authentication bypass scenarios that could compromise entire network fabric environments.