CVE-2018-7365 in iRAI
Summary
by MITRE
All versions up to ZXCLOUD iRAI V5.01.05 of the ZTE uSmartView product are impacted by untrusted search path vulnerability, which may allow an unauthorized user to perform unauthorized operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7365 affects ZTE uSmartView product versions up to V5.01.05, representing a critical untrusted search path weakness that exposes the system to unauthorized access and privilege escalation. This flaw resides within the software's dynamic library loading mechanism, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the search paths used to locate required libraries during execution. The vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of environment variables such as PATH, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, or similar system variables that influence library resolution. When an attacker can manipulate these search paths, they can inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit the software's reliance on insecure library loading practices. In the context of ZTE uSmartView, which serves as a network management and monitoring solution, this weakness creates a significant attack surface where malicious actors can leverage the compromised application to gain unauthorized access to network infrastructure. The flaw specifically manifests when the application loads shared libraries without proper validation of their source or integrity, enabling attackers to place malicious libraries in directories that are searched before legitimate system libraries. This behavior aligns with CWE-426, which describes the insecure loading of dynamic libraries, and represents a classic example of how improper library resolution can lead to privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a network management tool that typically runs with elevated privileges, making successful exploitation potentially catastrophic for network security.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7365 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive network data, or disrupt critical network operations. Network administrators using affected versions of uSmartView may find their monitoring and management systems compromised, potentially allowing attackers to hide malicious activities from detection while maintaining long-term access to the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through various attack vectors including social engineering, file upload vulnerabilities, or by compromising systems that interact with the uSmartView application. This weakness can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1068 for local privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the compromised application to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code within the network environment. Organizations that deploy ZTE uSmartView in production environments face significant risk if they have not updated to patched versions, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7365 require immediate action to update to patched versions of ZTE uSmartView, as ZTE has released security updates addressing this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement strict library path controls and disable unnecessary dynamic library loading capabilities within the application. The recommended approach includes configuring the application to use absolute paths for library loading, implementing proper privilege separation, and monitoring for suspicious library loading activities. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit potential attack vectors, while regular security audits should verify that no malicious libraries have been introduced into the system. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring system logs for unusual library loading patterns, and ensuring that all system components are regularly updated to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime application self-protection mechanisms and regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in their network management infrastructure.