A critical remote code execution vulnerability has been identified in Dell EMC’s Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) versions 7 and 8. Tracked as CVE-2018-1207, this flaw affects firmware versions prior to 2.52.52.52 and carries a CVSSv3 score of 9.8, indicating its severe risk potential1. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems through CGI injection attacks.
Technical Overview of the Vulnerability
The vulnerability exists in the iDRAC web interface’s CGI component, specifically through improper handling of file uploads. Attackers can exploit this by uploading a malicious shared library (.so file) to the /tmp directory and then triggering its execution via LD_PRELOAD environment variable manipulation2. The exploit takes advantage of a stack-based buffer overflow condition in the CGI handler, which fails to properly validate input before processing it.
Proof of Concept code available on Exploit-DB demonstrates how attackers can leverage this vulnerability to add new administrative users to the system. The Python script (CVE-2018-1207.py) uploads a precompiled C library that executes racadm commands to create a user with credentials “user:Passw0rd”3. The vulnerable endpoint /cgi-bin/login?LD_DEBUG=files was found to leak library paths, aiding in exploitation.
Impact and Affected Systems
The vulnerability affects all Dell EMC iDRAC7 and iDRAC8 devices running firmware versions below 2.52.52.52. Given that iDRAC interfaces are typically exposed on management networks, this creates a significant attack surface for organizations using affected Dell servers. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to:
- Execute arbitrary commands with root privileges
- Create persistent backdoor access
- Modify system configurations
- Access sensitive data on managed systems
Mitigation and Remediation
Dell has released firmware version 2.52.52.52 to address this vulnerability. Organizations should immediately upgrade all affected iDRAC controllers to this version or later4. Additional security recommendations include:
1. Isolate iDRAC interfaces on dedicated management networks, never exposing them directly to the internet. 2. Implement TLS 1.2 or higher for all iDRAC communications and disable weak cipher suites. 3. Monitor for suspicious activity on iDRAC interfaces, particularly unexpected file uploads or configuration changes. 4. Restrict network access to iDRAC interfaces using firewall rules and VLAN segmentation.
For organizations unable to immediately patch, temporary mitigation can be achieved by blocking access to the /cgi-bin/putfile endpoint at the network level. However, this should only be considered a stopgap measure until proper patching can be performed.
Detection and Monitoring
Security teams should monitor for several indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability. These include unexpected file creations in /tmp directory, particularly .so files with random names. Network monitoring should look for unusual outbound connections originating from iDRAC interfaces, which could indicate command and control activity.
The Nuclei scanner includes detection capabilities for this vulnerability, allowing organizations to scan their networks for exposed and vulnerable iDRAC interfaces5. Log monitoring should focus on authentication attempts and configuration changes made through the iDRAC interface, particularly those occurring outside normal maintenance windows.
Conclusion
CVE-2018-1207 represents a serious threat to organizations using affected Dell EMC servers. The combination of remote code execution capability and the privileged position of iDRAC controllers in server infrastructure makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous. While patches are available, the persistence of unpatched systems in many environments continues to present an attractive target for attackers.
Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability and implementing the additional security measures outlined above. The availability of public exploit code increases the likelihood of widespread exploitation attempts, making timely remediation essential for maintaining secure server infrastructure.
References
- “Dell EMC iDRAC7/iDRAC8 2.52.52.52 – RCE via File Upload,” Exploit-DB, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/52246
- “Dell Security Advisory DSA-2020-063,” Dell Technologies, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000177737
- “CVE-2018-1207 Detail,” NIST National Vulnerability Database, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-1207
- mgargiullo, “cve-2018-1207,” GitHub repository, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://github.com/mgargiullo/cve-2018-1207
- chnzzh, “iDRAC-CVE-lib,” GitHub repository, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://github.com/chnzzh/iDRAC-CVE-lib
