CVE-2018-6790 in Plasma Workspace
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in KDE Plasma Workspace before 5.12.0. dataengines/notifications/notificationsengine.cpp allows remote attackers to discover client IP addresses via a URL in a notification, as demonstrated by the src attribute of an IMG element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6790 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within the KDE Plasma Workspace desktop environment. This issue affects versions prior to 5.12.0 and stems from improper handling of notification data within the dataengines/notifications/notificationsengine.cpp component. The flaw enables remote attackers to extract client IP addresses through maliciously crafted notification content, specifically targeting the src attribute of IMG elements within notification messages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when KDE Plasma processes notifications containing embedded image references. When a notification includes an IMG element with a src attribute pointing to a remote resource, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the URL before displaying it. This oversight allows an attacker positioned remotely to craft notification messages that contain IP addresses within the URL structure, potentially exposing internal network addresses to external parties. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the notification system's trust in displayed content without adequate verification mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious risk to network security and privacy. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gather information about internal network topology and client configurations, which could serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. The exposure of client IP addresses provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that could be used for targeted attacks, network mapping, or privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where internal IP addresses are often considered sensitive information and are typically protected from external disclosure.
The security implications extend beyond simple IP address exposure, as this vulnerability demonstrates a broader pattern of inadequate input validation within KDE's notification handling system. This flaw aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic example of how seemingly benign user interface components can become attack vectors. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python," though in this case the attack vector involves notification processing rather than direct command execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6790 primarily involve upgrading to KDE Plasma Workspace version 5.12.0 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved input sanitization and URL validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as firewall rules that restrict outbound connections from desktop environments to prevent exploitation, though this approach may impact legitimate functionality. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing notification filtering policies that restrict the types of content allowed in notifications, particularly those containing external references. The fix implemented in the patched versions typically involves enhanced validation of URL schemes and proper handling of image sources to prevent IP address leakage while maintaining the core notification functionality.