CVE-2018-1185 in RecoverPoint
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in EMC RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines versions prior to 5.1.1, EMC RecoverPoint version 5.1.0.0, and EMC RecoverPoint versions prior to 5.0.1.3. Command injection vulnerability in Admin CLI may allow a malicious user with admin privileges to escape from the restricted shell to an interactive shell and run arbitrary commands with root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1185 represents a critical command injection flaw within EMC RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines and related RecoverPoint versions. This security weakness exists in the Admin CLI component of the system, which serves as the primary interface for administrative operations and configuration management. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 5.1.1, 5.1.0.0, and 5.0.1.3, indicating that organizations running these older releases face significant exposure to potential exploitation. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the command execution pathways of the administrative interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass intended security controls.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88, which classify it as a command injection vulnerability. When an attacker with administrative privileges exploits this flaw, they can manipulate the command execution process to escape from the restricted shell environment. This restricted shell is designed to limit user capabilities and prevent direct system access, but the vulnerability allows for privilege escalation to root level. The attack vector specifically targets the Admin CLI where legitimate administrative commands are processed, but the improper handling of user inputs enables malicious command sequences to be executed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability essentially undermines the principle of least privilege by allowing an authenticated administrator to gain full system control through crafted input sequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the RecoverPoint system and its underlying virtual machine environments. Once exploited, the attacker can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system modification, service disruption, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core administrative functionality of the RecoverPoint solution, which is responsible for backup and recovery operations in virtualized environments. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where an attacker could not only gain system control but also potentially disrupt backup operations, access sensitive data, or manipulate recovery procedures. The impact is amplified in environments where RecoverPoint manages critical virtual machine workloads and backup operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with upgrading to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory. The recommended remediation approach includes applying the vendor-supplied patches and updates to all affected systems, ensuring that the Admin CLI components receive the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit administrative access to only necessary personnel, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring and logging of administrative activities to detect anomalous command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other system components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in administrative interfaces. The remediation process should also include security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential exploitation attempts and maintain proper operational security practices.