CVE-2018-6670 in Common UI
Summary
by MITRE
External Entity Attack vulnerability in the ePO extension in McAfee Common UI (CUI) 2.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to view confidential information via a crafted HTTP request parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The CVE-2018-6670 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in McAfee Common UI version 2.0.2 that affects the ePO extension component. This vulnerability specifically targets the way the system processes HTTP request parameters, creating an external entity attack vector that allows authenticated remote attackers to access sensitive information. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and processing within the Common UI framework, which serves as a foundational component for McAfee's endpoint protection solutions. The vulnerability exists in the manner in which the system handles external entity references during HTTP request processing, potentially exposing confidential data to unauthorized parties who can leverage this weakness through crafted HTTP requests.
This technical flaw falls under the category of insecure direct object reference and improper input validation, aligning with CWE-20 and CWE-91. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the system's failure to properly sanitize and validate HTTP request parameters that contain external entity references. When authenticated users submit specially crafted HTTP requests containing malicious entity references, the system processes these inputs without adequate protection mechanisms. The attack leverages the XML external entity processing capabilities within the Common UI framework, where the system inadvertently resolves external entities and returns their contents in the HTTP response. This creates a scenario where confidential information can be extracted through the response payload, as the system does not properly restrict or validate the external entity references that are processed during request handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure. Organizations using McAfee Common UI 2.0.2 are at risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data that may include system configurations, user information, and potentially other confidential business data. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter, provided they have valid authentication credentials. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where McAfee ePO (Endpoint Protection Platform) is deployed, as it directly impacts the Common UI component that serves as an interface for managing endpoint security policies and monitoring systems. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first obtain valid user credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this vulnerability to extract additional sensitive information from the system.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the XML external entity processing vulnerability in the Common UI framework. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the impact of potential exploitation, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous HTTP request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other components that may be susceptible to similar external entity attack patterns, particularly within XML processing frameworks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1566 for credential access, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that address both network-level and application-level threats. Regular security awareness training for administrators and users should also be implemented to reduce the risk of credential compromise that could enable exploitation of this vulnerability.