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CVE Record

CVE-2018-12591: Ubiquiti Networks EdgeSwitch version 1.7.3 and prior suffer from an improperly neutralized element in an OS...

Ubiquiti Networks EdgeSwitch version 1.7.3 and prior suffer from an improperly neutralized element in an OS command due to lack of protection on the admin CLI, leading to code execution and privilege escalation greater than administrators themselves are allowed. An attacker with access to an admin account could escape the restricted CLI and execute arbitrary shell instructions.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-12591 affects Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 1.7.3 and earlier. An attacker who already has an admin account could break out of the restricted admin CLI and run arbitrary shell instructions, gaining more control than normal administrators should have.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for network infrastructure teams if affected EdgeSwitch devices remain in service. The flaw requires admin access, but compromise could give attackers deeper control over switching infrastructure.

Technical view

The source describes improper neutralization of OS command elements in the EdgeSwitch admin CLI. Authenticated admin access is required, but successful abuse allows restricted CLI escape, arbitrary shell instruction execution, and privilege escalation beyond intended administrative controls.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to organizations running Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 1.7.3 or earlier, especially where admin access is shared, externally reachable, weakly controlled, or available from broad management networks.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The attacker needs admin account access first. The business risk is loss of switch control and deeper network infrastructure compromise.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited. The CVE description names Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch 1.7.3 and prior, while the structured affected fields are n/a. No CVSS, CWE, KEV status, or explicit patch version is provided in the bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify EdgeSwitch devices running version 1.7.3 or earlier.
  • Check Ubiquiti guidance for fixed firmware or supported remediation.
  • Restrict admin CLI access to trusted management networks only.
  • Review, remove, or rotate shared and stale admin credentials.
  • Monitor switch configuration and logs for unauthorized administrative changes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory EdgeSwitch models and firmware versions across all sites.
  • Confirm whether any device is at or below version 1.7.3.
  • Verify admin CLI is not reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Review admin account lists for shared, stale, or unnecessary access.
  • Check vendor sources for a documented fixed release before closure.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution 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 lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2018-12591 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

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.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.