CVE-2018-7581 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2018-7581 article provides insights into a vulnerability in WebLog Expert Web Server Enterprise 9.4 that allows local users to gain unauthorized access as an administrator.

Understanding CVE-2018-7581

The WebServer.cfg file in \ProgramData\WebLog Expert\WebServer\ has weak permissions, potentially enabling local users to create a plaintext password and access the system as an administrator.

What is CVE-2018-7581?

The vulnerability in WebLog Expert Web Server Enterprise 9.4 allows local users to exploit weak permissions in the WebServer.cfg file to gain unauthorized access as an administrator.

The Impact of CVE-2018-7581

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information and system compromise by malicious local users.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-7581

The technical details of the CVE-2018-7581 vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The WebServer.cfg file in WebLog Expert Web Server Enterprise 9.4 has weak permissions (BUILTIN\Users:(ID)C).
This allows local users to set a cleartext password and log in as an admin.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: WebLog Expert Web Server Enterprise 9.4
Vendor: N/A
Version: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

Local users can exploit the weak permissions in the WebServer.cfg file to potentially create a plaintext password and gain unauthorized access as an administrator.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-7581, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Restrict access to the WebServer.cfg file to authorized users only.
Regularly monitor and review file permissions to detect unauthorized changes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user access rights.
Conduct regular security training for users to raise awareness of best practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches or updates provided by the vendor to address the weak permissions in the WebServer.cfg file.