CVE-2018-1206 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor versions prior to 6.3 Patch 159 and Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor versions prior to 6.4 Patch 110 contain a hardcoded database account with administrative privileges, posing a security risk.

Understanding CVE-2018-1206

Versions of Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor earlier than 6.3 Patch 159 and 6.4 Patch 110 have a vulnerability related to a hardcoded database account with fixed administrative privileges.

What is CVE-2018-1206?

The vulnerability in Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor allows an attacker with physical access to the server hosting the DPA Datastore Service and knowledge of the hardcoded account's password to gain unauthorized entry into the database.

The Impact of CVE-2018-1206

Unauthorized access to the database containing sensitive information
Potential data breaches and loss of confidentiality

Technical Details of CVE-2018-1206

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are crucial to understanding its implications.

Vulnerability Description

Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor versions prior to 6.3 Patch 159 and 6.4 Patch 110 have a hardcoded database account named "apollosuperuser" with fixed administrative privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor versions prior to 6.3 Patch 159 and 6.4 Patch 110

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker needs physical access to the server hosting the DPA Datastore Service and knowledge of the hardcoded account's password to exploit the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate steps and implementing long-term security practices are essential to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2018-1206.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor to versions 6.3 Patch 159 or 6.4 Patch 110 to eliminate the hardcoded account vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict physical access to servers hosting sensitive databases.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong password policies and regular password changes.
Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates provided by Dell EMC to ensure the system's resilience against known vulnerabilities.