CVE-2018-11184

Vulnerability

Quest DR Series Disk Backup software version 4.0.3 and earlier contains a command injection vulnerability (issue 42 of 46) that allows an authenticated user to inject arbitrary operating system commands through a crafted request. The flaw resides in the administrative web interface where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being passed to a shell execution function. Versions before 4.0.3.1 are affected [1].

Exploitation

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must first have valid credentials to the administrative web console of the Quest DR Series device. Once authenticated, the attacker can send a specially crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable endpoint, injecting shell metacharacters into a parameter that is subsequently executed. This does not require direct network access to the underlying operating system, only access to the management interface. The exact steps are not publicly detailed but involve manipulating a parameter that reaches a system call [1].

Impact

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the backup software process, typically root or a high-privileged service account. This can lead to full compromise of the backup appliance, including data exfiltration, destruction of backups, or lateral movement within the network. The CIA impact is complete: confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the device and its stored data are at risk [1].

Mitigation

Quest released version 4.0.3.1 to address this and other vulnerabilities. Organizations must upgrade to this version or later to remediate the issue. No workarounds are documented. The vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog as of the publication date [1].