CVE-2022-41320 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Veritas System Recovery (VSR) versions 18 and 21. The vulnerability arises because VSR stores the network destination password in plaintext within the Windows registry during the backup configuration process. This insecure storage method exposes sensitive credentials to any Windows user who has sufficient privileges to read the registry keys where these passwords are stored. An attacker or unauthorized user with such access could retrieve the network destination password and subsequently gain unauthorized access to network file systems that they are not permitted to access. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-922, which relates to improper storage of sensitive information. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, reflecting a medium severity with the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating that the vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network, requires low attack complexity, privileges are required but no user interaction is needed, and the impact is high on confidentiality but none on integrity or availability. There are no known exploits in the wild and no patches or vendor advisories currently linked. This vulnerability primarily impacts the confidentiality of network credentials and, by extension, the confidentiality of data stored on network file systems accessed via these credentials. It does not directly affect data integrity or availability. The threat actor would need to have some level of privilege on the Windows system to access the registry keys, meaning that the vulnerability is not exploitable by completely unprivileged users or remote attackers without any access. However, once an attacker gains such privileges, the exposure of network passwords could facilitate lateral movement or unauthorized data access within an organization’s network environment.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be significant, especially for those relying on Veritas System Recovery for backup and disaster recovery operations. The exposure of network destination passwords could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive network shares, potentially resulting in data breaches or leakage of confidential information. This risk is heightened in environments where multiple users have elevated privileges on backup servers or workstations, or where endpoint security controls are insufficient to prevent privilege escalation. Additionally, unauthorized access to network file systems could facilitate further attacks such as data exfiltration or the planting of malicious files. Given the critical role of backup systems in business continuity, any compromise of backup credentials could undermine trust in recovery processes and increase the risk of ransomware or other destructive attacks. European organizations in regulated sectors (e.g., finance, healthcare, government) may face compliance and reputational risks if sensitive data is exposed due to this vulnerability. However, the requirement for local privileges to exploit the vulnerability somewhat limits the attack surface to insiders or attackers who have already compromised a system within the network.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should take several specific steps beyond generic patching advice: 1) Restrict and audit access to Windows registry keys where backup configuration passwords are stored, ensuring only highly trusted administrators have read permissions. 2) Implement strict privilege management and least privilege principles to minimize the number of users with sufficient rights to access sensitive registry areas. 3) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious access to registry keys and unusual lateral movement attempts. 4) Use network segmentation to isolate backup servers and restrict access to network file systems only to authorized systems and users. 5) Where possible, configure Veritas System Recovery to avoid storing plaintext passwords or use alternative authentication mechanisms such as managed service accounts or credential vaults. 6) Regularly review and rotate network destination passwords used in backup configurations to limit the window of exposure. 7) Conduct security awareness training for administrators and users with elevated privileges about the risks of credential exposure and best practices for secure handling. 8) Monitor vendor communications for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available.