CVE-2018-11154 in DR Series Disk Backup
Summary
by MITRE
Quest DR Series Disk Backup software version before 4.0.3.1 allows command injection (issue 12 of 46).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2023
The CVE-2018-11154 vulnerability resides within Quest DR Series Disk Backup software, specifically affecting versions prior to 4.0.3.1 and represents a critical command injection flaw that falls under the CWE-77 category of Command Injection. This vulnerability manifests as a security weakness in the software's handling of user-supplied input within command execution contexts, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary commands that are subsequently executed by the system with elevated privileges. The flaw impacts the backup and recovery operations of enterprise data protection systems, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of backed-up data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the software's command processing mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets passed directly into system commands without proper escaping or filtering. When the software processes user input for backup operations, network configurations, or system management tasks, the unvalidated data can contain shell metacharacters or command separators that trigger unintended execution of malicious commands on the underlying operating system. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the system level where the software typically runs with administrative privileges, enabling attackers to execute commands with the highest available permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-11154 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can lead to complete system takeover and data exfiltration. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to backup servers, potentially leading to data deletion, modification, or theft of sensitive information. The attack surface includes all components of the Quest DR Series that handle user input for command execution, including network configuration tools, backup scheduling features, and system monitoring utilities. Organizations utilizing this backup solution face significant risk of lateral movement within their networks, as compromised backup systems often contain credentials and access information for multiple systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of system commands through legitimate software interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to version 4.0.3.1 or later, which addresses the input validation issues through proper sanitization of user-supplied data. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to backup systems and employ principle of least privilege configurations that restrict the execution capabilities of backup software. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious input, and conducting regular security assessments of backup infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in enterprise software, particularly in systems handling sensitive data operations. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely remediation of similar vulnerabilities in backup and recovery systems. Security teams must prioritize monitoring for exploitation attempts and maintain detailed audit logs of backup system activities to detect potential compromise. The incident highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of backup solutions and adherence to secure coding practices that prevent command injection attacks in enterprise infrastructure.