CVE-2018-9029 in Privileged Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
An improper input validation vulnerability in CA Privileged Access Manager 2.x allows remote attackers to conduct SQL injection attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9029 represents a critical security flaw in CA Privileged Access Manager version 2.x systems that exposes organizations to significant remote attack vectors. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's database interaction components, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and authorization processes within the privileged access management framework, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive privileged accounts and access credentials. Organizations relying on this system for managing administrative privileges face substantial risk of unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components when this vulnerability remains unaddressed.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into database query construction. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious SQL code through input fields or parameters that are processed by the vulnerable system. This improper validation allows the attacker to manipulate the underlying database queries, potentially enabling them to extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even execute administrative commands within the database environment. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for systems accessible over network connections. The specific context of this vulnerability within CA Privileged Access Manager means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to privileged accounts that should remain protected.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-9029 extends far beyond simple data theft, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of organizations relying on privileged access management systems. Successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of privileged accounts, enabling attackers to move laterally within networks and access critical systems, databases, and applications that require administrative privileges. The vulnerability's presence in a privileged access management solution creates a particularly severe risk scenario where attackers can potentially gain access to the very credentials and permissions designed to protect organizational assets. This type of vulnerability directly violates security principles and can result in significant financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. Organizations may face audit failures and legal consequences if they cannot demonstrate adequate protection of privileged access credentials and systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-9029 should focus on immediate remediation through official vendor patches and updates to address the input validation deficiencies. Organizations must implement comprehensive input sanitization measures including parameterized queries, stored procedures, and proper escape sequence handling to prevent SQL injection attacks. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of vulnerable components, while regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The implementation of web application firewalls and database activity monitoring systems can provide additional layers of protection and detection capabilities. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all privileged access management systems and related components to identify and remediate similar input validation issues that may exist within the broader infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a clear violation of ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning that attackers often employ to identify and exploit such vulnerabilities.