CVE-2018-6499 in Hybrid Cloud Management Containerized Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Remote Code Execution in the following products Hybrid Cloud Management Containerized Suite HCM2017.11, HCM2018.02, HCM2018.05, Operations Bridge Containerized Suite 2017.11, 2018.02, 2018.05, Data Center Automation Containerized Suite 2017.01 until 2018.05, Service Management Automation Suite 2017.11, 2018.02, 2018.05, Service Virtualization (SV) with floating licenses using Any version using APLS older than 10.7, Unified Functional Testing (UFT) with floating licenses using Any version using APLS older than 10.7, Network Virtualization (NV) with floating licenses using Any version using APLS older than 10.7 and Network Operations Management (NOM) Suite CDF 2017.11, 2018.02, 2018.05 will allow Remote Code Execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-6499 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting multiple enterprise software suites from Micro Focus. This vulnerability impacts containerized deployments of hybrid cloud management, operations bridge, data center automation, service management automation, service virtualization, unified functional testing, network virtualization, and network operations management products. The flaw exists within the licensing mechanism of these applications, specifically when utilizing floating licenses with the Advanced Product Licensing System (APLS) older than version 10.7. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these tools are commonly deployed.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient sanitization within the licensing server component that handles floating license requests. When the APLS service processes license check requests from client applications, it fails to properly validate the input parameters, particularly those related to license file paths and configuration data. This insufficient validation creates a condition where maliciously crafted license requests can trigger code execution within the licensing service context. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection flaw, which aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing a direct path for attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected systems. The flaw exists at the application layer where the licensing service processes untrusted data from remote clients, creating an attack surface that can be exploited without requiring any prior authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across enterprise infrastructure. Organizations running affected versions of these software suites face potential complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement capabilities for attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability. The affected products are commonly deployed in mission-critical environments where they handle sensitive operational data, making the potential damage substantial. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to enterprise networks, escalate privileges, and potentially move laterally to other systems within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability affects multiple product lines including service virtualization, network virtualization, and network operations management, which are often integrated into core business operations and security monitoring systems. This creates a cascading risk where exploitation of one vulnerable component can potentially compromise entire operational environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6499 require immediate action from affected organizations. The primary remediation involves upgrading all affected products to versions that include patches addressing the licensing validation flaw, specifically ensuring that APLS is updated to version 10.7 or later. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate the licensing servers from general network access and restrict communication to only trusted endpoints. The implementation of network access controls using firewalls and access control lists can significantly reduce the attack surface by limiting direct communication with the vulnerable licensing services. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected software and monitor for potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement intrusion detection systems with signatures specific to this vulnerability and establish monitoring procedures for unusual license request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078.004 for valid accounts, emphasizing the need for comprehensive monitoring and access control measures to prevent exploitation.