CVE-2018-10174 in Management Console
Summary
by MITRE
Digital Guardian Management Console 7.1.2.0015 has an SSRF issue that allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via file:// URLs, send TCP traffic to intranet hosts, or obtain an NTLM hash. This can occur even if the logged-in user has a read-only role.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10174 affects the Digital Guardian Management Console version 7.1.2.0015 and represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw that fundamentally undermines the security boundaries of the affected system. This vulnerability resides within the console's handling of file:// URLs, creating an attack vector that allows remote adversaries to bypass normal network security controls and access internal resources that should remain protected. The flaw manifests when the application processes user-supplied input that contains file protocol references, enabling attackers to manipulate the application's behavior to access local files, interact with internal network services, and extract sensitive authentication information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates independently of user privileges, meaning that even read-only authenticated users can exploit the flaw to gain unauthorized access to system resources and internal network components. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-918 category of Server-Side Request Forgery, which specifically addresses weaknesses where applications fail to properly validate and sanitize external requests that can be used to access internal resources. The attack surface is extensive as the vulnerability permits multiple malicious activities including arbitrary file reading, internal network port scanning, and authentication credential harvesting through NTLM hash collection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation and improper access control enforcement within the application's request processing pipeline. When a user submits a request containing a file:// URL, the Digital Guardian Management Console fails to properly validate the protocol and path components of the URL, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that traverse the local file system or establish TCP connections to internal hosts. The vulnerability specifically enables attackers to read arbitrary files on the server's file system, which could include configuration files, database credentials, application source code, or other sensitive data. Additionally, the flaw allows for TCP traffic generation to internal network hosts, effectively enabling port scanning and service enumeration activities that would normally be restricted by network firewalls and security policies. The ability to obtain NTLM hashes represents a particularly dangerous aspect of this vulnerability, as it provides attackers with authentication tokens that can be used for lateral movement within the network or for credential theft attacks. This capability directly aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1075 and T1003 tactics, which cover the use of legitimate credentials and credential dumping techniques respectively. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require administrative privileges or complex attack chains, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on the management console for security operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-10174 extends far beyond the immediate compromise of the affected management console. Organizations that fail to address this vulnerability face significant risk of internal network reconnaissance, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement attacks. The ability to read arbitrary files on the server system means that attackers can access sensitive configuration information, database connection strings, and other application-specific data that could be used to escalate privileges or target other systems within the network. The internal network connectivity capabilities enable attackers to perform network mapping activities, identify running services, and potentially discover additional vulnerable systems that could serve as entry points for further attacks. The NTLM hash collection feature poses a direct threat to organizations that rely on Windows authentication mechanisms, as these hashes can be used to authenticate to other systems within the domain or to perform pass-the-hash attacks. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations that use Digital Guardian for security monitoring and management, as the compromise of the management console creates a potential backdoor for attackers to bypass security controls and maintain persistent access to the network. The vulnerability also affects the organization's ability to trust the integrity of their security monitoring infrastructure, as the management console becomes a potential attack vector rather than a protective barrier.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided security patches or updates as soon as they become available. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be reviewed to limit access to the Digital Guardian Management Console to only necessary administrative users and systems. The implementation of web application firewalls or API gateways can help filter and validate incoming requests to prevent malicious file:// URL processing. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough network audits to identify and remediate any other applications that may exhibit similar vulnerabilities in their infrastructure. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or network scanning activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of validating all external inputs and implementing proper access controls regardless of user roles, as demonstrated by the fact that read-only users can exploit the flaw. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege configurations for all management interfaces and regularly review access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive systems. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the applied patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing security policies or operational procedures. Regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and address similar issues in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.