SAN Vulnerabilities

[mjd <bragot () gmail com>]

We are evaluating a proposal wherein our Web Server Admins would like
to use our internal SAN to host data for our external websites.  Our
external websites are on our outfacing DMZ which means they could be
subject to all sorts of attack.  Our internal SAN hosts some very
sensitive health care data so I'm reluctant to allow this since it
puts our most protected data physically very close to our most
vulnerable segment.

They have given me assurance that they have locked down the SAN to the
point wherein one server accessing cannot access any other disk unless
it is explicitly mounted.  I do not have heavy experience with SANS,
but based on their explanation, the SAN switch can be likened to a
firewall in that it blocks any communication not explicitly allowed.

When drawing this out on a board, it just doesn't look right.  We're
physically connecting servers in our External DMZ to our SAN which
hosts very sensitive data.

Any advice on this situation?  Are we overreacting to this and should
we trust in the security boundaries created by the SAN
switch/controller?  Are there vulnerabilities out there that allow an
attacker to take control of the whole SAN?

Thanks in advance!
mjd

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