CVE-2018-6979 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console (A/W Console) versions 9.7.x before 9.7.0.3, 9.6.x before 9.6.0.7, 9.5.x before 9.5.0.16, 9.4.x before 9.4.0.22, 9.3.x before 9.3.0.25, 9.2.x before 9.2.3.27, and 9.1.x before 9.1.5.6 contain a vulnerability that allows bypassing of SAML authentication. This can lead to unauthorized access and information disclosure.

Understanding CVE-2018-6979

This CVE identifies a security flaw in VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console that could be exploited to bypass SAML authentication.

What is CVE-2018-6979?

The vulnerability in VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console allows malicious actors to bypass SAML authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized access and information disclosure.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6979

The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass SAML authentication, posing a risk of unauthorized access and information disclosure within affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6979

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows for the bypassing of SAML authentication in VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console.

Affected Systems and Versions

VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console versions 9.7.x to 9.7.0.3
VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console versions 9.6.x to 9.6.0.7
VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console versions 9.5.x to 9.5.0.16
VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console versions 9.4.x to 9.4.0.22
VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console versions 9.3.x to 9.3.0.25
VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console versions 9.2.x to 9.2.3.27
VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console versions 9.1.x to 9.1.5.6

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited during device enrollment, allowing attackers to impersonate authorized SAML sessions, especially when certificate-based authentication is enabled.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2018-6979 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management Console to the patched versions.
Implement certificate-based authentication to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit SAML authentication processes.
Conduct security training to educate users on the importance of secure authentication practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply the necessary patches provided by VMware to address the SAML authentication bypass vulnerability.