How to remediate – Arcserve UDP Agent Detection

1. Introduction

The Arcserve UDP Agent Detection vulnerability indicates that a backup application is running on the remote host. This means the system is using Arcserve Unified Data Protection (UDP) for data protection, which could present an attack surface if not properly secured or patched. Confidentiality, integrity and availability may be affected if the agent itself is compromised.

2. Technical Explanation

The Arcserve UDP Agent is a software component used for backing up and restoring data. Its presence on a host indicates that sensitive data is likely being processed or stored by this application. While not directly exploitable as a vulnerability in itself, the agent represents an entry point for attackers targeting backup systems to gain access to backed-up data or disrupt recovery operations. There are no known CVEs associated with simply *detecting* the presence of the software; however, vulnerabilities may exist within specific versions of Arcserve UDP.

• Root cause: The agent is installed and running on the host.
• Exploit mechanism: An attacker could attempt to exploit known vulnerabilities in the Arcserve UDP Agent itself or use it as a pivot point to compromise other systems.
• Scope: Any system with the Arcserve Unified Data Protection (UDP) Agent installed.

3. Detection and Assessment

Confirming the presence of the agent is straightforward. You can also check for running processes associated with Arcserve UDP.

• Quick checks: Run ps -ef | grep arcserve on Linux/Unix systems or use Task Manager on Windows to look for Arcserve processes.
• Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 138692 can detect the presence of Arcserve UDP Agent. This is an example only, and results should be verified.
• Logs and evidence: Check application logs in the default installation directory (typically C:Program FilesArcserve on Windows) for agent activity.

ps -ef | grep arcserve

4. Solution / Remediation Steps

The primary remediation step is to ensure Arcserve UDP Agent is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and that appropriate security measures are in place for the backup system itself.

4.1 Preparation

• Services: No services need to be stopped directly for detection; however, stopping the Arcserve UDP Agent service may be required during patching or updates.

4.2 Implementation

1. Step 1: Check the current version of the Arcserve UDP Agent installed on the host system.
2. Step 2: Visit the Arcserve support website (https://www.arcserve.com/products/arcserve-udp) to determine if a newer version is available.
3. Step 3: Download and install the latest security patch or update for Arcserve UDP Agent, following Arcserve’s official documentation.

4.3 Config or Code Example

There are no configuration changes required to simply detect the presence of the agent; however, a secure configuration involves strong authentication and access controls.

Before

After

4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability

Several security practices can help mitigate risks associated with backup systems.

• Least privilege: Grant only necessary permissions to the Arcserve UDP Agent service account and users accessing the backup system.
• Patch cadence: Implement a regular patch management process for all software, including Arcserve UDP Agent.
• Secure defaults: Review and harden default configurations of Arcserve UDP Agent, changing passwords and disabling unnecessary features.

4.5 Automation (Optional)

Automation is not directly applicable to detecting the agent’s presence but can be used for patch management.

5. Verification / Validation

• Post-fix check: Run ps -ef | grep arcserve --version on Linux/Unix systems, or check the “About” section in the Arcserve UDP Agent UI to verify the updated version number.
• Re-test: Re-run the initial detection method (e.g., `ps -ef | grep arcserve`) and confirm that the agent is still present but with the expected version.

ps -ef | grep arcserve --version

6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring

Regularly monitor for new vulnerabilities affecting Arcserve UDP Agent and implement security best practices for backup systems.

• Baselines: Update your security baseline to include the latest recommended configurations for Arcserve UDP Agent.
• Pipelines: Integrate vulnerability scanning into your CI/CD pipeline to identify outdated or vulnerable software components.
• Asset and patch process: Establish a regular schedule for reviewing and applying security patches to all systems, including backup servers.

7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back

Applying updates may cause temporary service disruptions or compatibility issues with other applications.

• Risk or side effect 1: Updates could temporarily interrupt backup operations. Schedule updates during off-peak hours to minimize impact.

8. References and Resources

Refer to official Arcserve documentation for detailed information about security best practices and patch management.

• Vendor advisory or bulletin: https://www.arcserve.com/products/arcserve-udp