CVE-2022-23241 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Clustered Data ONTAP versions 9.11.1 through 9.11.1P2 when SnapLock configured FlexGroups are in use. Clustered Data ONTAP is a storage operating system developed by NetApp, widely used for enterprise data storage solutions. SnapLock is a feature that enforces Write Once Read Many (WORM) compliance, ensuring that data cannot be modified or deleted before the end of a predefined retention period, which is critical for regulatory compliance and data integrity. This vulnerability allows an authenticated remote attacker with limited privileges (low complexity) to arbitrarily modify or delete WORM-protected data prior to the retention period's expiration. The attack vector is network-based, requiring no user interaction, and the vulnerability impacts data integrity and availability but not confidentiality. The CVSS v3.1 score is 8.1, reflecting high severity due to the potential for significant data loss or tampering in environments relying on WORM protections. The underlying weakness is related to improper access control (CWE-284), which permits unauthorized modification of protected data. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a serious risk to organizations that depend on SnapLock for compliance and data retention policies. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is substantial, especially for sectors with strict regulatory requirements such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government agencies that rely on WORM storage to meet data retention and compliance mandates (e.g., GDPR, MiFID II, Basel III). Unauthorized modification or deletion of WORM data could lead to non-compliance penalties, legal liabilities, loss of trust, and operational disruptions. The ability of an attacker to alter or remove protected data undermines the integrity of audit trails and evidentiary records, potentially affecting forensic investigations and regulatory audits. Additionally, availability of critical archived data could be compromised, impacting business continuity. Since the vulnerability requires authentication but no user interaction, insider threats or compromised credentials could be leveraged to exploit this flaw. The network-accessible nature of the vulnerability means that attackers could attempt exploitation remotely, increasing the attack surface for organizations with exposed management interfaces or insufficient network segmentation.

European organizations using Clustered Data ONTAP with SnapLock configured FlexGroups should immediately assess their exposure to this vulnerability by identifying affected versions (9.11.1 through 9.11.1P2). In the absence of an official patch, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit administrative and management interface access to trusted personnel and networks. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be enforced for all accounts with privileges to modify SnapLock configurations or data. Network segmentation and firewall rules should restrict access to management interfaces to internal, secure networks only. Continuous monitoring and auditing of SnapLock-protected data access and modification attempts should be enabled to detect suspicious activity promptly. Organizations should also review and tighten credential management policies to prevent compromise. Where possible, consider disabling SnapLock FlexGroups temporarily if business operations allow, or migrate critical data to unaffected systems. Finally, maintain close communication with NetApp for updates on patches or workarounds and apply them promptly once available.