CVE-2018-6443 in Network Advisor
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Brocade Network Advisor Versions before 14.3.1 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log in to the JBoss Administration interface of an affected system using an undocumented user credentials and install additional JEE applications. A remote unauthenticated user who has access to Network Advisor client libraries and able to decrypt the Jboss credentials could gain access to the Jboss web console.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6443 represents a critical security flaw in Brocade Network Advisor software versions prior to 14.3.1 that exposes the underlying JBoss application server to unauthorized remote access. This vulnerability stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials within the network management infrastructure, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit without requiring legitimate credentials or prior authentication. The flaw specifically affects the JBoss Administration interface, which serves as a critical management endpoint for the application server hosting network monitoring capabilities.
Technical analysis reveals that the vulnerability operates through the use of undocumented default credentials that remain hardcoded within the affected software implementation. This design flaw allows attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms by leveraging these predicable credentials that are not properly secured or changed during installation processes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables remote code execution capabilities through the installation of additional Java Enterprise Edition applications, effectively providing attackers with full administrative control over the JBoss application server. The attack vector requires minimal prerequisites since the credentials are accessible through the Network Advisor client libraries, making this vulnerability exploitable by threat actors with basic network reconnaissance capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6443 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can establish persistent access to the JBoss administration interface, install malicious applications, and potentially escalate privileges to gain control over the entire network monitoring infrastructure. This compromise directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the CWE-259 weakness category, which addresses "Use of Hard-coded Passwords" and demonstrates the dangerous practice of embedding authentication credentials within software without proper security controls or obfuscation. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers "Valid Accounts: Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts," though in this case the accounts are hardcoded within the application rather than legitimate user accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues in network management systems. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Brocade Network Advisor version 14.3.1 or later, which contains patches that resolve the hardcoded credential exposure. System administrators must also implement network segmentation to isolate management interfaces from general network traffic, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary administrative interfaces when not required, implementing strong network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts, and establishing robust credential management practices that avoid hardcoding authentication information within applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication design and the need for regular security assessments of network management infrastructure to identify and remediate similar hardcoded credential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by adversaries seeking to establish persistent access to critical network systems.