Analyst readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-0431 is a Cisco IMC web management flaw that could let a logged-in remote attacker run system commands as root on an affected device. For executives, the key risk is control-plane compromise of Cisco UCS E-Series infrastructure if IMC access is exposed or accounts are misused.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for internet-reachable or broadly reachable IMC management interfaces, especially on production infrastructure. Root-level command execution on management software can materially affect availability, integrity, and incident recovery. Lack of KEV evidence lowers urgency slightly, but the privileged impact keeps this a high-priority hygiene item.
Technical view
The issue is command injection in the web-based management interface of Cisco Integrated Management Controller Software. Cisco attributes it to insufficient validation of command input. An authenticated remote attacker could send crafted commands through the interface and execute arbitrary system-level commands with root privileges on affected Cisco UCS E-Series Software systems.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where Cisco UCS E-Series systems run affected IMC Software and the web-based management interface is reachable by administrators or remote networks. The provided sources do not specify affected version ranges, CVSS score, or exact fixed releases in the bundle.
Exploitation context
The source bundle describes authenticated remote exploitation through crafted commands to the IMC web interface. It does not cite public exploit code, real-world exploitation, or CISA KEV listing. Treat exploitation as plausible after credential compromise, but not confirmed active from the supplied evidence.
Researcher notes
The public bundle is incomplete for version-level triage: severity, CVSS, and exact affected or fixed versions are not included. Analysis is grounded in Cisco's stated impact: authenticated remote command injection via IMC web management with root privileges on affected UCS E-Series Software.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco's advisory for fixed releases or vendor-approved workarounds.
- Restrict IMC web management access to trusted administrative networks only.
- Remove unnecessary IMC accounts and enforce strong administrative authentication.
- Monitor affected devices for unexpected system-level changes or suspicious admin sessions.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco UCS E-Series systems running Cisco IMC Software.
- Confirm whether IMC web management is remotely reachable.
- Compare deployed software against Cisco advisory guidance for CVE-2018-0431.
- Review logs for unusual authenticated management activity or system-level changes.
Public sources used
Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-77: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-0431 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 1041686CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_SECTRACK
- 20180905 Cisco Integrated Management Controller Command Injection VulnerabilityCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_CISCO
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.