CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-29084NVD status: Modified

Unity: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-29084 is a critical-severity improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts vulnerability in Unity from Dell, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 5.2.0.0.5.173 as the first without the flaw, so updating Unity to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.03% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 81% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update Unity to 5.2.0.0.5.173 or a later version.
  2. Update Unity Operating Environment to 5.2.0.0.5.173 or a later version.
  3. Update Unity Xt Operating Environment to 5.2.0.0.5.173 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on dell.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  5. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
DellUnitybefore 5.2.0.0.5.1735.2.0.0.5.173
DellUnity Operating Environmentbefore 5.2.0.0.5.1735.2.0.0.5.173
DellUnity Xt Operating Environmentbefore 5.2.0.0.5.1735.2.0.0.5.173
DellUnityvsa Operating Environmentbefore 5.2.0.0.5.1735.2.0.0.5.173

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.1HighCNA (emc.com)
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD
CVSS 2.010.0HighNVD

Official description

Dell Unity, Dell UnityVSA, and Dell Unity XT versions before 5.2.0.0.5.173 do not restrict excessive authentication attempts in Unisphere GUI. A remote unauthenticated attacker may potentially exploit this vulnerability to brute-force passwords and gain access to the system as the victim. Account takeover is possible if weak passwords are used by users.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts

The product does not implement sufficient measures to prevent multiple failed authentication attempts within a short time frame.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Common protection mechanisms include: Disconnecting the user after a small number of failed attempts Implementing a timeout Locking out a targeted account Requiring a computational task on the user's part.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.

More Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts vulnerabilities (CWE-307)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Unity

All Unity vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.