CVE-2018-6978 in vRealize Operations
Summary
by MITRE
vRealize Operations (7.x before 7.0.0.11287810, 6.7.x before 6.7.0.11286837 and 6.6.x before 6.6.1.11286876) contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability due to improper permissions of support scripts. Admin user of the vROps application with shell access may exploit this issue to elevate the privileges to root on a vROps machine. Note: the admin user (non-sudoer) should not be confused with root of the vROps machine.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-6978 represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw within VMware vRealize Operations platforms across multiple version branches. This security weakness stems from inadequate permission controls applied to support scripts within the vROps application environment. The vulnerability affects versions 7.x before 7.0.0.11287810, 6.7.x before 6.7.0.11286837, and 6.6.x before 6.6.1.11286876, creating a persistent risk for organizations utilizing these specific releases. The flaw specifically targets the administrative user account within the vROps application, which while possessing shell access capabilities, does not inherently possess sudo privileges or root-level permissions on the underlying operating system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269, which addresses improper privileges assigned to security-relevant components. Attackers exploiting this weakness can leverage their administrative access within the vROps application to execute support scripts that have been improperly configured with elevated permissions. The flaw essentially allows a non-root administrative user to gain root-level access to the underlying operating system through the exploitation of these poorly secured support mechanisms. This represents a classic privilege escalation vector where application-level administrative privileges are insufficient to prevent system-level compromise. The vulnerability exists because support scripts within the vROps environment have been configured with overly permissive access controls that do not adequately enforce the principle of least privilege.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the vROps platform and the underlying infrastructure it operates on. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain complete root access to the vROps machine, enabling them to modify system configurations, install malicious software, access all data stored on the system, and potentially use the compromised machine as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and T1566, covering social engineering tactics that may be used to initially gain the initial administrative access required to exploit this vulnerability. The attack chain typically involves gaining access to the vROps administrative interface, identifying the vulnerable support scripts, and executing them to achieve root-level system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor patches released for versions 7.0.0.11287810, 6.7.0.11286837, and 6.6.1.11286876 respectively. Additionally, system administrators should review and tighten the permissions of support scripts within the vROps environment, ensuring that only necessary components have elevated privileges. The remediation process should also include implementing network segmentation to limit access to vROps systems, employing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and conducting regular security audits of script permissions and access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized execution of support scripts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing privilege escalation attacks targeting operational technology platforms. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the principle of least privilege in security architecture, particularly for enterprise monitoring and management platforms that may be targeted by sophisticated attackers seeking persistent access to critical infrastructure.