CVE-2018-12465 in Secure Messaging Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
An OS command injection vulnerability in the web administration component of Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway (SMG) allows a remote attacker authenticated as a privileged user to execute arbitrary OS commands on the SMG server. This can be exploited in conjunction with CVE-2018-12464 to achieve unauthenticated remote code execution. Affects Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway versions prior to 471. It does not affect previous versions of the product that used GWAVA product name (i.e. GWAVA 6.5).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12465 represents a critical operating system command injection flaw within the web administration interface of Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway versions prior to 471. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of web application security and system-level privilege escalation, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying server infrastructure. The flaw specifically targets the administration component that handles user requests, allowing for direct manipulation of system commands through input validation bypasses that occur during request processing. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its requirement for privileged authentication, yet it remains particularly dangerous as it enables attackers who have already compromised administrative credentials to gain full system control.
Technical exploitation of CVE-2018-12465 occurs when authenticated privileged users submit malicious input through the web administration interface that gets improperly sanitized or escaped before being passed to underlying operating system commands. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and CWE-88, which addresses command injection vulnerabilities where arguments are not properly separated from command text. The attack vector leverages the web interface's insufficient input validation mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject operating system commands that are subsequently executed with the privileges of the web application process. This creates a direct pathway from web-based exploitation to system-level command execution, potentially enabling full compromise of the messaging gateway server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it can facilitate complete system compromise when combined with other vulnerabilities in the same product line. When exploited in conjunction with CVE-2018-12464, which likely represents an authentication bypass or information disclosure vulnerability, attackers can achieve unauthenticated remote code execution, dramatically expanding the attack surface and reducing the attack complexity. This combination of vulnerabilities creates a particularly dangerous scenario for organizations using affected SMG versions, as it allows for complete system takeover without requiring prior authentication. The implications include potential data exfiltration, system modification, privilege escalation, and the ability to establish persistent access through backdoor creation or service manipulation.
Organizations must implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches for Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway version 471 and later, which address the input validation and sanitization issues that enable this command injection. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of the web administration interface, while implementing comprehensive monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns and unusual administrative activity. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework aligns with techniques such as T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, indicating the need for defensive measures that detect and prevent both initial exploitation and post-exploitation activities. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected products and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place to prevent similar issues in the future, particularly given that previous GWAVA versions are not affected by this vulnerability.