CVE-2018-6486 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Micro Focus Fortify Audit Workbench (AWB) and Micro Focus Fortify Software Security Center (SSC) versions 16.10, 16.20, and 17.10 are affected by a vulnerability known as XML External Entity (XXE) injection.

Understanding CVE-2018-6486

This CVE involves a high severity vulnerability in Micro Focus Fortify Audit Workbench (AWB) and Micro Focus Fortify Software Security Center (SSC) that could allow for XML External Entity (XXE) injection.

What is CVE-2018-6486?

The vulnerability in versions 16.10, 16.20, and 17.10 of Micro Focus Fortify AWB and SSC allows attackers to inject malicious XML External Entity (XXE) code, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6486

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high severity with a CVSS base score of 7.3. The potential consequences include low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, with no privileges required for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6486

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is due to the improper handling of XML External Entities in the affected versions of Micro Focus Fortify AWB and SSC, allowing attackers to inject malicious code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Fortify Audit Workbench (AWB) and Micro Focus Fortify Software Security Center (SSC)
Vendor: Micro Focus
Versions: 16.10, 16.20, 17.10

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious XML External Entity (XXE) code into the affected systems, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-6486 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Micro Focus to address the vulnerability in the affected versions.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or unusual activities on the Fortify AWB and SSC systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Micro Focus has released patches to mitigate the vulnerability in versions 16.10, 16.20, and 17.10 of Fortify Audit Workbench and Software Security Center.