CVE-2018-15764 in ESRS Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC ESRS Policy Manager versions 6.8 and prior contain a remote code execution vulnerability due to improper configurations of triggered JMX services. A remote unauthenticated attacker may potentially exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code in the server's JVM.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15764 affects Dell EMC ESRS Policy Manager versions 6.8 and earlier, presenting a critical remote code execution risk through improperly configured JMX services. This flaw resides within the enterprise software solution designed for managing and monitoring storage systems, where the insecure configuration of Java Management Extensions services creates an exploitable entry point for malicious actors. The vulnerability stems from the default installation settings that fail to properly secure the JMX endpoints, allowing unauthorized access to the underlying Java Virtual Machine environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of JMX services that are configured without adequate authentication mechanisms or access controls. When JMX services are improperly configured, they expose management interfaces that can be accessed remotely without requiring authentication credentials. Attackers can leverage this misconfiguration to establish connections to the JMX endpoints and subsequently execute arbitrary code within the JVM context of the Policy Manager server. This represents a severe flaw in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security hardening practices in the software deployment configuration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it enables attackers to gain complete control over the affected server environment. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows for arbitrary command execution, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms within the storage management infrastructure. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that any external attacker can attempt to leverage this vulnerability without requiring prior access credentials, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such management systems often reside in network segments with limited monitoring.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and represents a classic example of insecure default configurations. The flaw also corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation enables adversaries to execute code within the target environment. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling unnecessary JMX services, applying proper authentication controls, and ensuring that management interfaces are properly secured. The recommended approach involves configuring access controls to restrict JMX endpoint access to authorized administrators only, implementing network segmentation to isolate management services, and applying the latest security patches provided by Dell EMC to remediate this vulnerability.
The broader implications of CVE-2018-15764 highlight the critical importance of proper service hardening and configuration management in enterprise software deployments. This vulnerability demonstrates how default configurations can create security weaknesses that persist across multiple versions of software solutions, emphasizing the need for regular security assessments and configuration reviews. Organizations utilizing Dell EMC ESRS Policy Manager should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar misconfigurations across their infrastructure and implement automated monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to management interfaces. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of following security best practices such as the principle of least privilege, network segmentation, and regular security updates to maintain robust defense-in-depth strategies against similar exploitation vectors.