CVE-2018-11048 : Security Advisory and Response

Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor and Integrated Data Protection Appliance are affected by an XML External Entity (XXE) Injection vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2018-11048

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the REST API of Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor and Integrated Data Protection Appliance, potentially allowing unauthorized access to system files or causing denial of service.

What is CVE-2018-11048?

The vulnerability in Dell EMC products could be exploited by authenticated remote malicious users to manipulate XML requests, leading to unauthorized access or denial of service attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11048

If exploited, attackers could access specific system files on the server or disrupt services by injecting malicious Document Type Definitions (DTDs) through XML requests.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11048

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the XML External Entity (XXE) Injection within the REST API of affected Dell EMC products.

Affected Systems and Versions

Data Protection Advisor versions 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 (up to patch B180), 6.5 (up to patch B58)
Integrated Data Protection Appliance versions 2.0, 2.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by crafting malicious XML requests with specially designed DTDs to gain unauthorized access or disrupt services.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-11048, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches promptly
Monitor and restrict network access to vulnerable systems
Implement strong authentication mechanisms

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software and firmware
Conduct security assessments and audits periodically
Educate users on secure coding practices and threat awareness

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches provided by Dell EMC to mitigate the vulnerability and enhance system security.