CVE-2018-1206 in Data Protection Advisor
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor versions prior to 6.3 Patch 159 and Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor versions prior to 6.4 Patch 110 contain a hardcoded database account with administrative privileges. The affected account is "apollosuperuser." An attacker with local access to the server where DPA Datastore Service is installed and knowledge of the password may potentially gain unauthorized access to the database. Note: The Datastore Service database cannot be accessed remotely using this account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1206 affects Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor software versions prior to specific patch releases, creating a critical security weakness through the presence of a hardcoded administrative database account. This flaw represents a fundamental design issue where security credentials are embedded within the software rather than being dynamically generated or securely managed, directly violating security best practices for credential management and access control. The hardcoded account named "apollosuperuser" possesses administrative privileges within the database, making it a prime target for malicious actors who can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the inclusion of a static password within the application code or configuration files, which remains unchanged across deployments. This approach to credential management creates a persistent security risk because the password becomes known to anyone who can access the system files or documentation, effectively creating a backdoor that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Datastore Service component of the Data Protection Advisor, which serves as the central repository for backup and recovery data, making it a critical system component that requires robust protection against unauthorized access attempts. The attack vector requires local system access, meaning an attacker must first compromise the server hosting the Datastore Service before they can exploit this weakness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized database access, as it provides an attacker with administrative privileges that could enable data exfiltration, system modification, or complete system compromise. The fact that the database cannot be accessed remotely using this account limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, as local access is often more easily obtained through various means including physical access, social engineering, or exploitation of other system vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hardcoded credentials, and represents a classic example of poor security implementation that violates fundamental principles of least privilege and secure credential management. Organizations using affected versions of Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor face significant risk of data breaches, compliance violations, and potential regulatory penalties due to this hardcoded credential weakness.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1206 require immediate action to update affected systems to the patched versions specified in the advisory, which should include Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor versions 6.3 Patch 159 and 6.4 Patch 110. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all affected installations and ensure that the patches are properly applied across all instances. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation to limit local access to critical systems, deploy monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts, and review access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel have local system access. The remediation process should also include disabling or removing the hardcoded account if it cannot be immediately patched, though this approach may require careful consideration of system functionality and potential compatibility issues with existing backup and recovery operations. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security patch management and proper credential lifecycle management as outlined in cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 controls for access control and system configuration management.