CVE-2018-13819 in Unified Infrastructure Management
Summary
by MITRE
A hardcoded secret key, in CA Unified Infrastructure Management 8.5.1, 8.5, and 8.4.7, allows attackers to access sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13819 represents a critical security flaw in CA Unified Infrastructure Management versions 8.5.1, 8.5, and 8.4.7 where a hardcoded secret key exists within the software components. This issue falls under the category of hardcoded credentials as classified by CWE-798, which is a well-documented weakness in software development practices where sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, passwords, or tokens are embedded directly into source code or configuration files. The presence of such hardcoded secrets creates a fundamental security risk that persists across system updates and deployments, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where these tools are widely deployed. The vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and potentially compromise the entire infrastructure management system.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the inclusion of a static cryptographic key within the application binaries or configuration files of the CA Unified Infrastructure Management suite. This hardcoded key serves as a critical authentication mechanism that allows unauthorized parties to bypass normal access controls and directly interact with the system's sensitive components. The flaw operates at the application layer and affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the platform, potentially enabling attackers to extract configuration data, access monitoring information, and manipulate system settings. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because the key remains unchanged across different deployments and system lifecycles, providing attackers with persistent access capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to comprehensive system compromise within enterprise environments that rely on CA Unified Infrastructure Management for critical infrastructure monitoring and management. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially access detailed system configurations, performance metrics, and monitoring data that could reveal network topology, system vulnerabilities, and operational weaknesses. The compromised system may also allow attackers to escalate privileges, modify monitoring parameters, or even disrupt service availability. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the managed infrastructure, making it a significant concern for organizations that depend on the platform for their operational continuity. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1552.001 - Credentials In Files, which involves the use of hardcoded credentials to gain access to systems and data.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect their infrastructure management systems. The primary recommendation involves identifying and replacing all hardcoded secret keys with dynamically generated credentials managed through secure credential management systems. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits to locate all instances of hardcoded keys within the CA Unified Infrastructure Management deployment and replace them with properly managed secrets. Additionally, implementing proper access controls, network segmentation, and monitoring mechanisms can help detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure software development practices and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning tools to detect hardcoded credentials in their codebases and configuration files as part of their ongoing security maintenance procedures.