CVE-2018-0643 in Orca
Summary
by MITRE
Ubuntu14.04 ORCA (Online Receipt Computer Advantage) 4.8.0 (panda-server) 1:1.4.9+p41-u4jma1 and earlier allows attacker with administrator rights to execute arbitrary OS commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0643 affects Ubuntu 14.04 ORCA (Online Receipt Computer Advantage) version 4.8.0 with panda-server package version 1:1.4.9+p41-u4jma1 and earlier. This represents a critical command injection flaw that enables authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the affected system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of user-supplied data within the ORCA platform's processing mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious command execution that bypasses normal security controls.
This security weakness operates through unspecified vectors within the ORCA system architecture, allowing an attacker who has already gained administrative access to escalate their privileges further by injecting and executing arbitrary shell commands. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection flaw that aligns with CWE-77, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires only administrative authentication, which is often obtained through social engineering, credential theft, or other initial compromise techniques. Once an attacker possesses administrative credentials, they can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious commands with the privileges of the affected service account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system's resources and data. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges further to gain root access, extract sensitive information, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors within the ORCA environment. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the panda-server component, which is responsible for processing receipt data and managing system operations, making it a critical component for potential exploitation. This flaw creates a significant risk for organizations relying on ORCA for financial transaction processing, as it could lead to data breaches, system compromise, and potential financial fraud.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches and updates provided by Ubuntu and the ORCA vendor to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also enforce strict access controls and monitor administrative activities for suspicious command execution patterns. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be reinforced, ensuring that administrative accounts are only accessible to authorized personnel and that all administrative activities are logged and audited. Additionally, network segmentation and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for anomalous command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security monitoring practices to detect and prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a command and script execution technique, specifically targeting privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms that could be leveraged by threat actors to maintain long-term access to compromised systems.