CVE-2024-28980: Dell RecoverPoint for VMs RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-28980 Overview

Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines version 6.0.x contains a Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm vulnerability in the SSH component. An unauthenticated attacker with remote network access could potentially exploit this vulnerability to achieve remote code execution on affected systems. This weakness stems from the implementation of outdated or insecure cryptographic algorithms within the SSH service, which can be leveraged by attackers to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of communications.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit weak SSH cryptographic algorithms to achieve remote code execution, potentially compromising entire virtual machine backup and disaster recovery infrastructure.

Affected Products

• Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines 6.0 SP1
• Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines 6.0 SP1 P1
• Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines 6.0.x series

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-12-13 - CVE-2024-28980 published to NVD
• 2025-02-04 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-28980

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-327 (Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm). The SSH implementation in Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines utilizes cryptographic algorithms that are considered weak or deprecated by modern security standards. These algorithms may be susceptible to various cryptographic attacks that can allow an attacker to decrypt communications, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or forge authentication credentials.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability combined with the lack of authentication requirements and no user interaction needed makes this particularly dangerous. The SSH service, which is typically exposed for remote management purposes, becomes an attack vector that can lead to complete system compromise with impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-28980 lies in the SSH component's support for broken or risky cryptographic algorithms. This may include deprecated cipher suites, weak key exchange mechanisms, or outdated MAC algorithms that have known vulnerabilities. When such algorithms are enabled and potentially negotiated during SSH handshakes, attackers can exploit mathematical weaknesses in these cryptographic primitives to compromise the secure channel.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based. An unauthenticated attacker with network access to the SSH service on affected Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines instances can exploit the weak cryptographic algorithms to:

1. Intercept and decrypt SSH traffic between legitimate administrators and the appliance
2. Perform man-in-the-middle attacks to inject malicious commands
3. Exploit cryptographic weaknesses to bypass authentication mechanisms
4. Achieve remote code execution on the underlying system

The exploitation requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it particularly severe. Successful exploitation could grant attackers complete control over the disaster recovery infrastructure, potentially affecting all protected virtual machines and backup data.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-28980

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected SSH connections from unfamiliar IP addresses to RecoverPoint for VMs appliances
• Anomalous authentication patterns or failed authentication attempts followed by successful sessions
• Unusual processes spawned from the SSH service context
• Unexpected changes to system configurations or user accounts

Detection Strategies

• Monitor SSH connection logs for connections using deprecated or weak cipher suites
• Implement network-based detection for SSH handshakes negotiating known-weak algorithms
• Deploy endpoint detection to identify suspicious process execution chains originating from SSH sessions
• Use vulnerability scanning tools to identify systems running affected versions of Dell RecoverPoint for VMs

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose SSH logging on RecoverPoint for VMs appliances to capture cipher negotiation details
• Implement SIEM rules to alert on SSH connections to critical infrastructure from unexpected sources
• Monitor for bulk data exfiltration or unusual backup-related activities following SSH sessions
• Regularly audit which cryptographic algorithms are enabled on SSH services

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-28980

Immediate Actions Required

• Review the Dell Security Update DSA-2024-429 and apply the recommended security patches immediately
• Inventory all Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines deployments running version 6.0.x
• Restrict network access to the SSH management interface using firewall rules or network segmentation
• Implement jump hosts or bastion servers for SSH access to limit direct exposure

Patch Information

Dell has released a security update addressing this vulnerability. Refer to the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2024-429 for detailed patch information and update instructions. Organizations should prioritize patching due to the critical severity and remote exploitation potential of this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network access controls to limit SSH access to trusted management networks only
• Use a VPN or zero-trust network access solution to restrict SSH connectivity to authorized administrators
• Disable weak cipher suites and key exchange algorithms in the SSH configuration if the product allows such customization
• Monitor SSH sessions closely and implement session recording for forensic purposes until patches can be applied

# Example: Restrict SSH access at the firewall level
# Allow SSH only from trusted management subnet
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -s 10.0.100.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j DROP