CVE-2018-9023 in Privileged Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
An input validation vulnerability in CA Privileged Access Manager 2.x allows unprivileged users to execute arbitrary commands by passing specially crafted arguments to the update_crld script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9023 represents a critical input validation flaw within CA Privileged Access Manager version 2.x, specifically affecting the update_crld script functionality. This issue stems from inadequate sanitization of user inputs, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that can escalate privileges and compromise system integrity. The vulnerability exists within the privileged access management framework, which is designed to control and monitor access to critical systems and resources within enterprise environments. The flaw manifests when unprivileged users can manipulate script arguments to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges, fundamentally undermining the security controls that privileged access managers are meant to enforce.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the update_crld script's handling of command-line arguments without proper validation or sanitization mechanisms. When users pass specially crafted arguments to this script, the system fails to properly validate or escape these inputs before processing them within system commands. This creates a classic command injection vulnerability where attacker-controlled data becomes part of the execution context, allowing for arbitrary code execution. The weakness aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 categories, specifically addressing command injection vulnerabilities where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into shell commands without adequate sanitization. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as the system does not properly separate user inputs from executable commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating potential for complete system compromise within environments that rely on CA Privileged Access Manager for security control. An unprivileged user gaining the ability to execute arbitrary commands can potentially access sensitive data, modify system configurations, disable security controls, or establish persistent access through backdoor creation. This vulnerability directly undermines the core security model of privileged access management systems, where the expectation is that only authorized privileged users can perform administrative functions. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where privileged access managers control access to critical infrastructure, databases, and sensitive applications. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to move laterally within networks, escalate privileges to system administrators, or gain access to confidential information that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying available vendor patches, restricting access to the vulnerable update_crld script, and implementing network segmentation to limit exposure. The remediation process should involve comprehensive vulnerability assessment to identify all instances of the vulnerable software and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place. System administrators should also conduct thorough auditing of privileged access controls and monitor for suspicious command execution patterns. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation controls and the need for proper privilege separation. The issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging controls around privileged script execution to detect anomalous behavior and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.