CVE-2018-11046 in Operations Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Pivotal Operations Manager, versions 2.1.x prior to 2.1.6 and version 2.0.14, includes NGINX packages that lacks security vulnerability patches. An attacker with access to the NGINX processes and knowledge of how to exploit the unpatched vulnerabilities may be able to impact Operations Manager
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2020
Pivotal Operations Manager represents a comprehensive platform for managing cloud infrastructure and applications, with NGINX serving as a critical component for web server functionality and reverse proxy operations. The vulnerability identified in CVE-2018-11046 specifically targets the NGINX packages bundled within these Operations Manager versions, creating a significant security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors. This issue affects versions 2.1.x prior to 2.1.6 and version 2.0.14, indicating a widespread impact across multiple release lines of the platform. The vulnerability stems from the absence of crucial security patches in the NGINX components, leaving the system exposed to known exploitation vectors that have been documented in the security community.
The technical flaw manifests through the use of outdated NGINX packages that contain unpatched vulnerabilities, creating a persistent threat surface for attackers who gain access to the NGINX processes. This exposure occurs because the bundled NGINX versions have not received the necessary security updates that would address known weaknesses in the web server implementation. The vulnerability allows for potential privilege escalation, code execution, and information disclosure attacks that could compromise the entire Operations Manager environment. Attackers with access to the NGINX processes can leverage these unpatched vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple web server functionality, as Operations Manager serves as a central management platform for cloud deployments and application orchestration. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure management capabilities, potentially compromising the entire cloud environment managed by the platform. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the system, as attackers could manipulate web server configurations, access sensitive management data, or even escalate privileges to gain administrative control over the Operations Manager instance. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Pivotal Operations Manager for their cloud infrastructure management, as the compromised system could serve as a foothold for broader attacks within the network.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Pivotal Operations Manager version 2.1.6 or 2.0.14 to address this vulnerability, as these releases contain the necessary NGINX security patches. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to NGINX processes and establish monitoring for suspicious activities related to web server operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1004 which addresses security weaknesses in the design of web applications, and represents a typical example of the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other components that might be using outdated NGINX packages, ensuring that all system components are properly patched and updated to maintain overall security posture.