CVE-2018-11150 in DR Series Disk Backup
Summary
by MITRE
Quest DR Series Disk Backup software version before 4.0.3.1 allows command injection (issue 8 of 46).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11150 affects Quest DR Series Disk Backup software prior to version 4.0.3.1 and represents a critical command injection flaw categorized under CWE-77. This vulnerability manifests as a security weakness in the software's handling of user-supplied input within command execution contexts, specifically within the backup and recovery operations of the Quest DR Series appliance. The issue is classified as one of forty-six vulnerabilities discovered in the software, with this particular flaw being the eighth in the series, indicating a pattern of input validation deficiencies within the product's architecture.
The technical implementation of this command injection vulnerability occurs when the Quest DR Series software processes user-provided parameters without proper sanitization or validation before incorporating them into system commands. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets executed as shell commands on the underlying operating system. This flaw resides in the software's handling of backup job parameters or configuration settings where external input is directly passed to system execution functions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service account, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-11150 extends beyond simple data corruption or service disruption, as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve persistent access and lateral movement within network environments. Organizations utilizing Quest DR Series appliances are at risk of unauthorized data access, data exfiltration, and potential establishment of backdoors through the command injection capability. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute commands such as creating new user accounts, modifying system configurations, or installing malicious software. This risk is compounded by the nature of backup systems, which often possess elevated privileges and access to critical organizational data repositories.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment to version 4.0.3.1 or later, as provided by Quest Software. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to Quest DR Series appliances and restrict administrative privileges to essential personnel only. Input validation controls should be enhanced through proper sanitization of all user-supplied parameters before system command execution, following secure coding practices aligned with OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework recommendations. Additionally, monitoring and logging should be implemented to detect anomalous command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's command and control tactics. System administrators should also conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar input validation issues within other components of their backup infrastructure.