ONTAP 9: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2024-21985 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in ONTAP 9 from NetApp, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.6 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 9.9.1P18, 9.10.1P16, 9.11.1P13 as the first without the flaw, so updating ONTAP 9 to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.33% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update ONTAP 9 to 9.9.1P18 or 9.10.1P16 or 9.11.1P13 or 9.12.1P10, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Clustered Data Ontap to 9.9.1 or 9.10.1 or 9.11.1 or 9.12.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on security.netapp.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| NetApp | ONTAP 9 | 9.0 up to, but not including, 9.9.1P18; 9.10.1 up to, but not including, 9.10.1P16; 9.11.1 up to, but not including, 9.11.1P13; 9.12.1 up to, but not including, 9.12.1P10; 9.13.1 up to, but not including, 9.13.1P4 | 9.9.1P18, 9.10.1P16, 9.11.1P13, 9.12.1P10, 9.13.1P4 |
| NetApp | Clustered Data Ontap | 9.0 up to, but not including, 9.9.1; 9.10.0 up to, but not including, 9.10.1; 9.11.0 up to, but not including, 9.11.1; 9.12.0 up to, but not including, 9.12.1; 9.13.0 up to, but not including, 9.13.1; 9.9.1; 9.10.1; 9.11.1; and 2 more ranges | 9.9.1, 9.10.1, 9.11.1, 9.12.1, 9.13.1 |
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
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- LowSome restricted data can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.6 | High | CNA (netapp.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.6 | High | NVD |
Official description
ONTAP 9 versions prior to 9.9.1P18, 9.10.1P16, 9.11.1P13, 9.12.1P10 and 9.13.1P4 are susceptible to a vulnerability which could allow an authenticated user with multiple remote accounts with differing roles to perform actions via REST API beyond their intended privilege. Possible actions include viewing limited configuration details and metrics or modifying limited settings, some of which could result in a Denial of Service (DoS).
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in ONTAP 9
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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