CVE-2018-11142 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Quest KACE System Management Appliance 8.0.318 allows unauthorized access to critical functions by bypassing localhost restrictions.

Understanding CVE-2018-11142

What is CVE-2018-11142?

The vulnerability in Quest KACE System Management Appliance 8.0.318 enables unauthorized users to access and execute critical functions by altering HTTP headers in a POST request.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11142

Exploiting this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access and execution of critical functions within the system, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11142

Vulnerability Description

The 'systemui/settings_network.php' and 'systemui/settings_patching.php' scripts in Quest KACE System Management Appliance 8.0.318, designed to be accessed only from localhost, can be accessed by unauthorized users by manipulating HTTP headers.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Quest KACE System Management Appliance
Version: 8.0.318

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized users can exploit this vulnerability by modifying the 'Host' and 'X_Forwarded_For' HTTP headers in a POST request to gain access to critical functions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement network-level controls to restrict access to sensitive scripts.
Regularly monitor and analyze HTTP headers for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Educate users on secure coding practices and the importance of HTTP header security.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Quest to address this vulnerability and enhance system security.