CVE-2018-11050 in NetWorker AMQP
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC NetWorker versions between 9.0 and 9.1.1.8 through 9.2.1.3, and the version 18.1.0.1 contain a Clear-Text authentication over network vulnerability in the Rabbit MQ Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP) component. User credentials are sent unencrypted to the remote AMQP service. An unauthenticated attacker in the same network collision domain, could potentially sniff the password from the network and use it to access the component using the privileges of the compromised user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11050 affects Dell EMC NetWorker software versions within the 9.0 through 9.2.1.3 release range along with version 18.1.0.1, specifically targeting the RabbitMQ Advanced Message Queuing Protocol AMQP component. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of authentication mechanisms within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of user credentials during network communication, where authentication data flows through the network without encryption, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors within the same network segment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the AMQP protocol handling within the NetWorker application, where user authentication credentials are transmitted in plaintext format rather than being encrypted during transmission. This clear-text transmission exposes sensitive authentication information to network sniffing attacks, allowing attackers to capture credentials using standard packet analysis tools. The vulnerability manifests when the system establishes connections to remote AMQP services, where the authentication process fails to implement proper encryption mechanisms, leaving user passwords and authentication tokens vulnerable to interception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with potential access to privileged network services and resources managed by the compromised accounts. An attacker positioned within the same network collision domain can exploit this weakness to capture authentication packets and subsequently impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, system configuration information, and network management capabilities. The attack vector requires minimal privileges and technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation is insufficient or non-existent.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a direct violation of fundamental security principles outlined in CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext transmission. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1075, which describes the use of legitimate credentials for lateral movement within networks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, deployment of encrypted communication protocols, and enforcement of secure authentication practices. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of Dell EMC NetWorker software and implementing network monitoring solutions to detect and prevent credential sniffing activities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access controls and mandatory encryption for all authentication communications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising their security posture.