CVE-2018-11171 in DR Series Disk Backup
Summary
by MITRE
Quest DR Series Disk Backup software version before 4.0.3.1 allows command injection (issue 29 of 46).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2023
The CVE-2018-11171 vulnerability affects Quest DR Series Disk Backup software prior to version 4.0.3.1 and represents a critical command injection flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category of Command Injection, which occurs when application input is not properly sanitized before being passed to system commands. The issue manifests within the software's handling of user-supplied data that gets directly incorporated into shell commands without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate input fields within the backup software interface to inject malicious commands that will be executed with the privileges of the affected service account. This typically occurs when the software processes user inputs through functions that directly invoke system shell commands without proper sanitization. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to the underlying system, potentially escalating privileges and executing arbitrary code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely, meaning attackers do not need physical access to the system to exploit the flaw.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Quest DR Series backup solutions, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that backup systems often have elevated privileges and access to critical data repositories. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and operational disruptions if this vulnerability is exploited. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise to include potential damage to backup integrity and recovery capabilities, which could severely impact business continuity planning.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to version 4.0.3.1 or later, which addresses the command injection vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of backup systems to untrusted networks. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential command injection vulnerabilities within their backup infrastructure. The remediation process should include monitoring for exploitation attempts and implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to detect suspicious command execution patterns. Security teams should also review and strengthen input validation practices across all applications handling user-supplied data to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, highlighting the need for comprehensive security measures including privileged access management and behavioral monitoring.