CVE-2018-5551 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

DocuTrac DTISQLInstaller.exe Hard-Coded Credentials

Understanding CVE-2018-5551

This CVE involves hard-coded credentials in DocuTrac QuicDoc and Office Therapy versions prior to DTISQLInstaller.exe version 1.6.4.0.

What is CVE-2018-5551?

DocuTrac QuicDoc and Office Therapy versions before DTISQLInstaller.exe 1.6.4.0 contain known passwords for three credentials: QDMaster, OTMaster, and sa.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5551

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 9, indicating a critical severity level with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack complexity is high, and it can be exploited over a network without user interaction.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5551

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from the inclusion of hard-coded credentials in the affected versions of DocuTrac software, making it susceptible to unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Platforms: Windows
Affected Product: DTISQLInstaller.exe
Vendor: DocuTrac
Vulnerable Versions: <= 1.6.4.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over a network without requiring any user privileges, posing a significant security risk.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-5551 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to a patched version that addresses the hard-coded credentials issue.
Change default passwords and implement strong, unique credentials.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to fix known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and address weaknesses.
Educate users on secure password practices and the importance of cybersecurity.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running DocuTrac QuicDoc and Office Therapy are updated to version 1.6.4.0 or higher to mitigate the risk of exploitation.