CVE-2018-11518 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been discovered that allows for a phreaking attack on HCL's legacy IVR systems that do not utilize Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This issue arises due to a lack of request authentication when the required sequence of Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signals for service activation is easily predictable.

Understanding CVE-2018-11518

This CVE-2018-11518 vulnerability enables attackers to exploit IVR systems by recording and utilizing audio signals for unauthorized service activations.

What is CVE-2018-11518?

The vulnerability in HCL's legacy IVR systems allows attackers to perform phreaking attacks by exploiting the predictability of DTMF signals during service activation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11518

Attackers can record audio signals from IVR systems to activate services without proper authentication.
Lack of request verification can lead to unauthorized service activations.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11518

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to abuse IVR systems by exploiting the predictability of DTMF signals for unauthorized service activations.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can record audio signals from IVR systems and use them for unauthorized service activations.
Lack of request authentication in IVR systems makes it easy for attackers to predict and exploit DTMF signals.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-11518 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement strong authentication mechanisms for IVR systems to prevent unauthorized service activations.
Regularly monitor IVR system activities for any suspicious behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and address vulnerabilities in IVR systems.
Educate users and administrators about the risks associated with IVR system vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates provided by HCL for their IVR systems.
Promptly apply patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.