CVE-2018-6671 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability known as Application Protection Bypass has been discovered in versions 5.3.0 through 5.3.3 and 5.9.0 through 5.9.1 of McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO). This CVE was published on June 15, 2018.

Understanding CVE-2018-6671

This CVE affects McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) versions 5.3.0 through 5.3.3 and 5.9.0 through 5.9.1.

What is CVE-2018-6671?

The vulnerability allows remote authenticated users to bypass security restrictions that limit access to specific ePO features to only the localhost by sending a crafted HTTP request.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6671

CVSS Base Score: 4.7 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: High
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: Low
Availability Impact: None
Scope: Changed

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6671

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) allows authenticated remote users to bypass security restrictions and access certain ePO features via a specially crafted HTTP request.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO)
Vendor: McAfee
Affected Versions: 5.3.0 through 5.3.3, 5.9.0 through 5.9.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The bypass is achieved by sending a specifically crafted HTTP request to the affected versions of McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO).

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches provided by McAfee to address the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.
Restrict access to the ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) to authorized personnel only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and systems to prevent vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training for employees to raise awareness of potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) is updated to versions that contain the necessary security fixes.