CVE-2017-11318 in Backup
Summary
by MITRE
Cobian Backup 11 client allows man-in-the-middle attackers to add and execute new backup tasks when the master server is spoofed. In addition, the attacker can execute system commands remotely by abusing pre-backup events.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2019
CVE-2017-11318 represents a critical security vulnerability in Cobian Backup 11 client that fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of backup operations through man-in-the-middle attacks. This vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms and weak cryptographic protections during the communication between the backup client and master server. The flaw allows attackers to spoof the master server and inject malicious backup tasks into the system, effectively enabling arbitrary code execution within the backup environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the network level where legitimate backup communications occur, making detection challenging and exploitation relatively straightforward for skilled attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exposes a fundamental flaw in the authentication and encryption protocols used by Cobian Backup 11. When a client establishes communication with what it believes to be the legitimate master server, an attacker can intercept and manipulate the network traffic to present a forged server identity. This spoofing capability extends beyond simple network interception to include the ability to inject new backup tasks that execute with the privileges of the backup service account. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-300 as "Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint" and also relates to CWE-310 as "Cryptography Error" due to the absence of proper cryptographic validation mechanisms. The pre-backup event abuse capability represents a secondary exploitation vector that allows attackers to execute arbitrary system commands with elevated privileges, effectively providing a complete compromise of the target system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11318 is severe and multifaceted, affecting organizations that rely on Cobian Backup 11 for their data protection infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors within backup systems, potentially compromising years of historical data and creating opportunities for extended lateral movement within networks. The ability to execute system commands through pre-backup events means that attackers can install malware, modify system configurations, or establish covert communication channels without direct user interaction. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1021.002 for remote services, as it enables both remote command execution and service manipulation. Organizations may experience complete data loss or corruption if attackers manipulate backup tasks to overwrite or delete critical data, while the pre-backup command execution capability can be used to establish persistence mechanisms that survive system reboots.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11318 require immediate implementation of network-level security controls and application-specific hardening measures. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate backup infrastructure from general network traffic and deploy network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized server spoofing attempts. The most effective immediate fix involves upgrading to a patched version of Cobian Backup that implements proper authentication and encryption protocols, specifically addressing the lack of cryptographic validation for server identity verification. Additional security measures include implementing network access controls to restrict communication between backup clients and servers, enabling encrypted communication channels, and establishing strict access controls for backup task management. System administrators should also implement network intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual backup task creation patterns and pre-backup event execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure communication protocols in backup systems, as highlighted in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001, which emphasize the need for authenticated and encrypted communications in data protection environments.