CVE-2026-18187 in ADM
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
A format string vulnerability was found in the Internal Backup on the ADM. The vulnerability occurs because user-controlled task input may be included in an error response and processed through an unsafe format string operation. An authenticated attacker can exploit this issue to disclose memory information or cause denial of service of the affected CGI process. Affected products and versions include: from ADM 4.1.0 through ADM 4.3.3.RUN1 as well as from ADM 5.0.0 through ADM 5.1.3.RI81.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical format string flaw within the Administrative Device Manager's internal backup functionality that stems from improper input validation and unsafe string processing mechanisms. The vulnerability exists when user-controlled task parameters are incorporated into error response messages without adequate sanitization, creating an opportunity for malicious input to be interpreted as format specifiers rather than literal text. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-134 category, which specifically addresses the use of untrusted data in format string operations where the data is not properly escaped or validated before being passed to functions like printf, sprintf, or similar formatting routines.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker who can submit malicious input through backup task configurations or parameters. When the system processes these inputs and generates error responses containing the unvalidated user data, the vulnerable format string processing function interprets the input as format specifiers rather than literal characters, allowing for memory disclosure attacks. The attacker can leverage this to read arbitrary memory locations from the process address space, potentially extracting sensitive information such as credentials, encryption keys, or internal system structures. Additionally, the vulnerability can be exploited to cause denial of service conditions by crafting inputs that trigger segmentation faults or other invalid memory access patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with significant attack surface within the administrative management interface. The affected versions span multiple release branches from ADM 4.1.0 through 4.3.3.RUN1 and ADM 5.0.0 through 5.1.3.RI81, indicating a widespread issue affecting various deployment scenarios. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage, where attackers can potentially escalate privileges or extract system information from the compromised administrative interface. The format string vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1211 for exploitation for privilege escalation, as access to administrative functions combined with memory disclosure capabilities can lead to further system compromise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that prevent user-controlled data from being processed through format string operations. The recommended approach involves using safe string formatting functions that accept explicit length parameters and avoid direct use of user input in format specifiers. Organizations should implement strict input filtering that removes or escapes potentially dangerous characters before processing, particularly within error handling routines. Additionally, deploying application-level firewalls or web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious input patterns targeting this specific vulnerability. The fix should include comprehensive parameter validation throughout the backup task processing pipeline, ensuring that all user-controlled inputs are properly escaped or validated before any interaction with format string functions occurs. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to address this vulnerability across all supported ADM versions, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous backup task execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.