CVE-2019-18780 in InfoScale
Summary
by MITRE
An arbitrary command injection vulnerability in the Cluster Server component of Veritas InfoScale allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root or administrator. These Veritas products are affected: Access 7.4.2 and earlier, Access Appliance 7.4.2 and earlier, Flex Appliance 1.2 and earlier, InfoScale 7.3.1 and earlier, InfoScale between 7.4.0 and 7.4.1, Veritas Cluster Server (VCS) 6.2.1 and earlier on Linux/UNIX, Veritas Cluster Server (VCS) 6.1 and earlier on Windows, Storage Foundation HA (SFHA) 6.2.1 and earlier on Linux/UNIX, and Storage Foundation HA (SFHA) 6.1 and earlier on Windows.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-18780 represents a critical arbitrary command injection flaw within the Cluster Server component of Veritas InfoScale products, specifically affecting a broad range of enterprise-grade clustering and storage management solutions. This vulnerability exists in the way the system processes certain input parameters within its cluster server functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can reach the affected services. The vulnerability impacts multiple Veritas products including Access, Flex Appliance, InfoScale, Veritas Cluster Server, and Storage Foundation HA across both Linux/UNIX and Windows platforms, with specific versions affected ranging from 7.4.2 and earlier down to 6.1 and earlier, indicating a widespread exposure across several product lines. The command injection occurs within the cluster server component which is responsible for managing high availability and failover operations in enterprise environments, making the potential impact on system integrity and availability particularly severe.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the cluster server's communication handling mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands that are subsequently executed with the privileges of the root or administrator account. This command injection flaw typically occurs when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being processed by the system, enabling attackers to append additional commands that are executed in the context of the privileged process. The attack vector involves sending specially crafted requests to the affected services, which then process these requests through vulnerable code paths that lead to command execution. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it operates at the system level, allowing attackers to gain complete control over affected systems and potentially escalate their privileges to access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access points. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 classifications, representing command injection and code injection weaknesses respectively, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input before executing commands.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-18780 extends far beyond simple unauthorized command execution, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of enterprise environments that rely on Veritas clustering solutions for high availability and disaster recovery. Organizations using affected versions of Veritas InfoScale, Access, Flex Appliance, and related products face significant risks including complete system compromise, data breaches, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The vulnerability's ability to execute commands as root or administrator provides attackers with unrestricted access to system resources, enabling them to manipulate cluster configurations, access sensitive information, and potentially compromise the entire high availability infrastructure. This threat is particularly dangerous in environments where these systems manage critical business applications, databases, or infrastructure components, as a successful exploitation could result in extended downtime, regulatory compliance violations, and substantial financial losses. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish backdoors, install malware, or conduct further reconnaissance activities against other systems within the network. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, demonstrating how the initial access can be leveraged for broader system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-18780 must address both immediate protection and long-term security enhancements within affected environments. Organizations should prioritize applying the vendor-provided patches and updates released for the affected versions of Veritas products, as these contain the necessary code fixes to prevent the command injection vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of affected services to only necessary systems, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Implementing strict input validation and sanitization practices within the affected applications, along with monitoring and logging of system calls and command executions, can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected Veritas products within their environments and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk assessment. Additional protective measures include deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts, implementing network access controls to restrict communication with vulnerable services, and establishing incident response procedures specifically tailored to address this type of vulnerability. Regular security awareness training for system administrators and security personnel is also recommended to ensure proper understanding of the vulnerability and its implications for enterprise security posture.