CVE-2018-6231 in Smart Protection Server
Summary
by MITRE
A server auth command injection authentication bypass vulnerability in Trend Micro Smart Protection Server (Standalone) versions 3.3 and below could allow remote attackers to escalate privileges on vulnerable installations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6231 represents a critical server authentication command injection flaw affecting Trend Micro Smart Protection Server versions 3.3 and earlier. This issue manifests as an authentication bypass vulnerability that enables remote attackers to escalate privileges within affected systems. The flaw exists within the server authentication command processing mechanism where insufficient input validation allows malicious payloads to be executed as part of authentication commands. The vulnerability falls under the category of command injection attacks as defined by CWE-77, where untrusted data is incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or encoding. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious authentication requests that contain command injection payloads, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges on the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of authentication parameters within the Smart Protection Server's command processing pipeline. When legitimate authentication requests are processed, the system fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied inputs before incorporating them into server commands. This creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious commands that execute within the context of the server's authentication process. The authentication bypass aspect occurs because the command injection allows attackers to manipulate the authentication flow, potentially bypassing normal authentication checks and gaining unauthorized access to privileged system functions. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries use legitimate system tools to execute malicious code. The impact extends beyond simple authentication bypass to include potential privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6231 is severe for organizations utilizing vulnerable Trend Micro Smart Protection Server installations. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it allows for unauthorized system access from any network location. The privilege escalation capability means that attackers can gain administrative access to the protection server, potentially enabling them to modify security policies, disable protection features, or access sensitive threat intelligence data. Organizations relying on the Smart Protection Server for network security monitoring face significant risk as this vulnerability could allow attackers to undermine the very protection mechanisms designed to defend against malicious activity. The vulnerability affects the core authentication functionality of the system, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to network traffic monitoring capabilities. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as a critical threat that could enable attackers to establish persistent access points within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6231 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Trend Micro Smart Protection Server installations to versions that address the command injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the Smart Protection Server and restrict remote administrative access to only trusted sources. Input validation controls should be enhanced at all authentication interfaces to prevent command injection attempts, including implementing proper sanitization and encoding of user-supplied inputs. Network monitoring should be strengthened to detect unusual authentication patterns or command execution attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security configurations should be reviewed to disable unnecessary authentication methods and ensure that only required services are accessible. Organizations should also implement intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious authentication request patterns. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar command injection vulnerabilities in other systems and ensure that the patching process is comprehensive across all affected components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the potential consequences of inadequate sanitization of user inputs in authentication systems.