CVE-2018-18556 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in VyOS 1.1.8 that allows operator users to execute the pppd binary with elevated permissions, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2018-18556

This CVE involves a flaw in input validation that can be exploited by a malicious operator user to gain root privileges.

What is CVE-2018-18556?

The vulnerability in VyOS 1.1.8 allows operator users to run the pppd binary with elevated permissions due to inadequate input validation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-18556

The vulnerability enables a malevolent operator user to spawn a shell under their control with root privileges, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-18556

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in VyOS 1.1.8 allows operator users to execute the pppd binary with elevated permissions, exploiting inadequate input validation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: VyOS 1.1.8
Vendor: VyOS
Version: n/a

Exploitation Mechanism

A malicious operator user can leverage the improper input validation to run the pppd binary with elevated permissions and spawn a shell with root privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from the CVE-2018-18556 vulnerability with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable operator users from executing the pppd binary with elevated permissions.
Implement strict input validation to prevent unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update VyOS to the latest version to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits to identify and address potential privilege escalation issues.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates to mitigate the risk of privilege escalation vulnerabilities.