CVE-2018-1079 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

PCs prior to version 0.9.164 and 0.10 are vulnerable to privilege escalation through a malicious REST call. An attacker with write privileges could manipulate files beyond the intended scope.

Understanding CVE-2018-1079

PCs versions 0.9.164 and 0.10 are susceptible to a privilege escalation vulnerability due to improper file name sanitization in the pcsd service's REST interface.

What is CVE-2018-1079?

The vulnerability in CVE-2018-1079 allows an authenticated attacker to exploit the pcsd service's REST interface, potentially leading to privilege escalation by manipulating files.

The Impact of CVE-2018-1079

CVSS Base Score: 8.7 (High)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: High
Scope: Changed
Confidentiality Impact: None
Integrity Impact: High
Availability Impact: High

Technical Details of CVE-2018-1079

PCs versions 0.9.164 and 0.10 are affected by a privilege escalation vulnerability through the pcsd service's REST interface.

Vulnerability Description

The pcsd service fails to properly sanitize file names in the /remote/put_file query, allowing an attacker to manipulate files beyond the intended directory.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: pcs
Versions: 0.9.164, 0.10

Exploitation Mechanism

An authenticated attacker with write privileges can exploit the vulnerability by making a malicious REST call to the pcsd service, potentially leading to unauthorized file manipulation.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-1079, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update PCs to version 0.9.164 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to the pcsd service to authorized users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update access control policies for the pcsd service.
Conduct security training for users to recognize and report suspicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor to fix the vulnerability and enhance system security.