CVE-2018-11051 in RSA Certificate Manager
Summary
by MITRE
RSA Certificate Manager Versions 6.9 build 560 through 6.9 build 564 contain a path traversal vulnerability in the RSA CMP Enroll Server and the RSA REST Enroll Server. A remote unauthenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability by manipulating input parameters of the application to gain unauthorized read access to the files stored on the server filesystem, with the privileges of the running web application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11051 represents a critical path traversal flaw within RSA Certificate Manager versions 6.9 build 560 through 6.9 build 564. This security weakness specifically affects the RSA CMP Enroll Server and RSA REST Enroll Server components, which are integral parts of the certificate management infrastructure used by organizations to handle digital certificate issuance and management. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate application behavior and access restricted system resources. The flaw exists at the application layer where file system access controls are bypassed through crafted input sequences that allow attackers to traverse directory structures beyond intended boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends specially crafted requests to the affected servers, manipulating input parameters that control file access operations. Through careful manipulation of path traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, an unauthenticated remote attacker can navigate through the server's file system hierarchy to access files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows read access to the file system with the privileges of the web application process, which typically runs with elevated permissions to perform certificate management operations. This means that successful exploitation could potentially expose sensitive configuration files, private keys, certificate stores, and other critical system data that resides on the same server hosting the vulnerable components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to cryptographic materials and system configuration data that could be used for further attacks. Organizations using affected RSA Certificate Manager versions face significant risk of credential theft, certificate compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core certificate management functionality, which is often critical for securing communications, authenticating systems, and maintaining trust within enterprise environments. Attackers could leverage this access to extract private keys, certificate data, or configuration information that could be used to impersonate legitimate systems or decrypt sensitive communications. The remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require valid credentials or prior access to the network to attempt exploitation, making the vulnerability particularly attractive for automated attack campaigns.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the path traversal vulnerability in the RSA Certificate Manager components. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the affected servers to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries seek to enumerate system resources. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious path traversal sequences and conduct thorough security assessments of certificate management infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities in related systems. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be reinforced to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of the certificate management ecosystem.