CVE-2018-0238 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in the role-based resource checking functionality of Cisco UCS Director allows an authenticated attacker to access unauthorized information and perform operations on virtual machines.

Understanding CVE-2018-0238

This CVE describes a flaw in Cisco UCS Director that could be exploited by a remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to virtual machines.

What is CVE-2018-0238?

The vulnerability in Cisco UCS Director's role-based resource checking functionality enables an authenticated attacker to view unauthorized information and carry out operations on virtual machines within the end-user portal.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0238

An authenticated remote attacker could access unauthorized information for any virtual machine in the UCS Director end-user portal.
The attacker could perform permitted operations on any virtual machine, potentially leading to unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0238

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Improper user authentication checks in Cisco UCS Director lead to the vulnerability.
Attackers can exploit this flaw by using a manipulated username and a valid password to gain access to all virtual machines in the end-user portal.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vulnerable versions include Cisco UCS Director releases 6.0 and 6.5 before patch 3 in the default configuration.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers need to log in to UCS Director with a modified username and valid password to exploit the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-0238 is crucial to prevent unauthorized access and operations.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patch provided by Cisco to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to the UCS Director end-user portal.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Cisco UCS Director to address security vulnerabilities.
Implement strong authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Cisco UCS Director is updated to version 6.5 patch 3 or later to address the vulnerability.