CVE-2018-5198 in G3 ALL
Summary
by MITRE
In Veraport G3 ALL on MacOS, a race condition when calling the Veraport API allow remote attacker to cause arbitrary file download and execution. This results in remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5198 affects Veraport G3 ALL software running on macOS systems, presenting a critical race condition flaw within the Veraport API implementation that creates a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms during API calls that allow malicious actors to exploit timing dependencies between system operations. The race condition occurs when multiple threads or processes attempt to access shared resources simultaneously without adequate protective measures, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate system states and execute malicious payloads.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves leveraging the race condition to manipulate file operations and API interactions in a way that allows remote attackers to download and execute arbitrary files on affected systems. Attackers can craft specific API requests that take advantage of the temporal window where system checks and file operations occur, enabling them to inject malicious code that gets executed with the privileges of the affected application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-362 category of race conditions, specifically involving concurrent execution scenarios where proper synchronization mechanisms are absent or insufficient. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-78 and CWE-74, which relate to command injection and code injection attacks that can occur when system components fail to properly validate or sanitize input parameters.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Veraport G3 ALL for their macOS environments, as it allows complete remote code execution without requiring authentication or local access. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it can be exploited over network connections without the need for physical access to target systems. The impact extends beyond simple file execution to potentially allow attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the macOS command line interface and application programming interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5198 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Veraport G3 ALL installations through official vendor updates that address the race condition in API implementations. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks and users. Additional protective measures include monitoring for anomalous API call patterns and unusual file download activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized binaries and establish robust logging mechanisms to detect suspicious API interactions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper synchronization mechanisms in concurrent programming and emphasizes the need for thorough security testing of API implementations before deployment in production environments.