CVE-2018-18591 in Service Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A potential unauthorized disclosure of data vulnerability has been identified in Micro Focus Service Manager versions: 9.30, 9.31, 9.32, 9.33, 9.34, 9.35, 9.40, 9.41, 9.50, 9.51. The vulnerability could be exploited to release unauthorized disclosure of data.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18591 represents a critical data exposure issue within Micro Focus Service Manager across multiple version releases from 9.30 through 9.51. This security flaw falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities that can potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive data. The affected system operates within enterprise service management environments where confidential business information, user credentials, and operational data are processed and stored. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient access controls and authentication mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions before granting data access. This weakness creates an attack surface where malicious actors could exploit the system to retrieve information that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The potential impact extends beyond simple data leakage to include corporate espionage, regulatory compliance violations, and significant reputational damage to organizations relying on the platform.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege escalation mechanisms within the Service Manager application architecture. The flaw allows attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures and access data through manipulated API calls or direct system interfaces. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and specifically relates to improper privilege management within enterprise applications. The vulnerability can be leveraged through various attack vectors including web application penetration testing, API manipulation, or by exploiting misconfigured system parameters. Attackers typically require minimal privileges to initiate exploitation but can escalate their access to retrieve comprehensive datasets that include user information, service requests, and system configuration details. The technical implementation flaw likely resides in the application's session management, authentication token handling, or database query execution mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond immediate data theft to encompass comprehensive business disruption and regulatory compliance failures. Organizations utilizing affected Service Manager versions face potential exposure of sensitive customer data, employee information, and proprietary business processes. The vulnerability creates a persistent risk that can remain undetected for extended periods, allowing attackers to systematically harvest data over time. This type of information disclosure vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality pillar of the CIA triad and can result in significant financial penalties under data protection regulations such as gdpr, hipaa, and pci dss. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Service Manager typically serves as a central repository for critical business operations and service management workflows. Organizations may experience cascading effects including service degradation, increased incident response costs, and potential legal liabilities stemming from unauthorized data access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-18591 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should prioritize applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates as soon as they become available, while also implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms. Network segmentation and application firewalls should be deployed to limit access to the Service Manager environment, particularly restricting direct database connections. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential privilege escalation paths and access control weaknesses. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls, enhanced logging and monitoring of system access, and regular review of user permissions can significantly reduce exploitation risks. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect misconfigurations and unauthorized access attempts. Organizations must also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle data exposure events and ensure compliance with relevant regulatory requirements for breach notification and remediation activities.