How to remediate – Western Digital Arkeia Virtual Appliance Detection

1. Introduction

The remote host is a Western Digital Arkeia Virtual Appliance, a backup and recovery device. These appliances store data for business continuity purposes. A vulnerability exists because the system is identifiable as this specific product type. This could allow attackers to target it with tailored attacks. Impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability depends on the security of the wider network but successful compromise of the appliance would likely lead to data loss or corruption.

2. Technical Explanation

The vulnerability is simply the presence of a Western Digital Arkeia Virtual Appliance on the network. While not an inherent technical flaw, it allows attackers to identify and focus attacks specifically against this system. Exploitation requires no preconditions beyond network connectivity. There is no known CVE associated with this detection alone. An attacker could use automated scanning tools to find these devices then attempt known vulnerabilities in Arkeia software or related components. Affected versions are all currently supported releases of the Western Digital Arkeia Virtual Appliance.

• Root cause: The system identifies itself as a Western Digital Arkeia Virtual Appliance.
• Exploit mechanism: An attacker scans the network for devices identifying as this product, then attempts to exploit known vulnerabilities in the appliance software or associated infrastructure.
• Scope: All versions of the Western Digital Arkeia Virtual Appliance are affected.

3. Detection and Assessment

Confirming the presence of an Arkeia appliance is straightforward. Use network scanning tools to identify it, or check system information if you have access.

• Quick checks: Run nmap -A and look for “Arkeia” in the output.
• Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 138679 can identify Western Digital Arkeia Virtual Appliances, but results may vary depending on scanner configuration.
• Logs and evidence: Review network traffic logs for connections to known Arkeia update servers or management interfaces.

nmap -A 

4. Solution / Remediation Steps

The primary solution is to ensure the appliance is kept up-to-date with security patches and that appropriate network segmentation is in place.

4.1 Preparation

• Ensure you have access to the latest Arkeia software and documentation. A roll back plan involves restoring from the pre-change backup.
• Changes should be scheduled during a maintenance window with appropriate approval from IT management.

4.2 Implementation

1. Step 1: Check the current version of Arkeia software running on the appliance via the web interface or command line tools.
2. Step 2: Download the latest security patch from http://www.arkeia.com/products/wd-arkeia.
3. Step 3: Install the downloaded patch following the vendor’s instructions.
4. Step 4: Reboot the appliance if required by the patch installation process.

4.3 Config or Code Example

Before

#Example - Version check showing an older version
arkeia --version
Arkeia Backup 6.5.2 Build: 1234

After

#Example - Version check showing the latest patched version
arkeia --version
Arkeia Backup 6.5.2 Build: 5678 (Patched)

4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability

Several security practices can help mitigate risks associated with this type of system. Keeping software up-to-date is crucial. Network segmentation limits the impact of compromise. Least privilege reduces potential damage if an attacker gains access.

• Practice 1: Patch cadence – Regularly update all software, including backup appliances, to address known vulnerabilities.
• Practice 2: Network segmentation – Isolate critical systems like backups on separate network segments with strict firewall rules.

4.5 Automation (Optional)

If using configuration management tools, automate the patch installation process. This example is conceptual and requires adaptation to your environment.

#Example - Ansible playbook snippet (Conceptual)
- name: Check Arkeia version
  command: arkeia --version
  register: arkeia_version
- name: Download latest patch
  get_url:
    url: "http://www.arkeia.com/patches/latest.patch"
    dest: /tmp/latest.patch
- name: Install patch (Requires vendor specific commands)
  command: ./install_patch.sh /tmp/latest.patch
  become: true

5. Verification / Validation

• Post-fix check: Run arkeia --version and verify the output shows the latest patched build number.
• Re-test: Re-run nmap -A and confirm that no vulnerable information is reported.
• Smoke test: Perform a small test backup and restore operation to ensure functionality remains intact.
• Monitoring: Monitor system logs for errors related to the patch installation or backup operations.

arkeia --version

6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring

• Baselines: Update your security baseline to require the latest Arkeia patches and configurations.
• Asset and patch process: Implement a monthly patch review cycle for all critical systems, including backup appliances.

7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back

Patch installation may cause temporary service disruption. In rare cases, patches can introduce compatibility issues. Always have a roll back plan in place.

• Risk or side effect 1: Patch installation could temporarily interrupt backup operations.

8. References and Resources

• Vendor advisory or bulletin: http://www.arkeia.com/products/wd-arkeia