CVE-2018-5752 in OX AppSuite
Summary
by MITRE
The backend component in Open-Xchange OX App Suite before 7.6.3-rev36, 7.8.x before 7.8.2-rev39, 7.8.3 before 7.8.3-rev44, and 7.8.4 before 7.8.4-rev22 allows remote attackers to conduct server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks via vectors involving non-decimal representations of IP addresses and special IPv6 related addresses.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5752 represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw within the Open-Xchange OX App Suite backend component. This security weakness affects multiple version ranges including 7.6.3-rev36, 7.8.2-rev39, 7.8.3-rev44, and 7.8.4-rev22, exposing systems to remote exploitation by malicious actors who can manipulate network requests through crafted inputs. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of IP address representations, creating opportunities for attackers to bypass intended security controls and access internal network resources that should remain protected from external access.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation within the backend processing logic that fails to properly sanitize and validate IP address formats. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting non-decimal representations of IP addresses along with special IPv6 address formats that the system does not adequately filter or reject. This allows them to construct malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate internal addresses, thereby circumventing network access controls and potentially gaining unauthorized access to internal services, databases, or other sensitive resources that are normally restricted from external access. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level where address parsing occurs, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to probe internal network structures and potentially escalate privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exfiltration, as it enables attackers to conduct reconnaissance activities against internal systems and potentially execute more sophisticated attacks. Successful exploitation could allow threat actors to access internal services that are typically protected by firewalls or other network security controls, leading to potential data breaches, system compromise, or lateral movement within the network. Organizations running affected versions of OX App Suite face significant risk of unauthorized access to their internal infrastructure, particularly in environments where the application serves as a gateway to internal resources or where it has access to sensitive data repositories. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to expand their access within compromised environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5752 should prioritize immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the specific input validation issues within the backend component. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while also monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns that may indicate attempted SSRF attacks. The implementation of web application firewalls and network intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious requests attempting to leverage this vulnerability. Additionally, regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar issues from emerging in other components of the application stack. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery vulnerabilities, and corresponds to techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under initial access and privilege escalation tactics, highlighting the multi-stage nature of potential exploitation scenarios.