LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2018-1998: IBM WebSphere MQ 8.0.0.0 through 9.1.1 could allow a local user to inject code that could be executed with...

IBM WebSphere MQ 8.0.0.0 through 9.1.1 could allow a local user to inject code that could be executed with root privileges. This is due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2018-1792. IBM X-ForceID: 154887.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM MQ/WebSphere MQ 8.0.0.0 through 9.1.1 has a local privilege escalation flaw. A low-privileged local user could inject code that runs with root privileges. Business urgency is highest where MQ servers are shared, host untrusted local users, or are reachable after an initial compromise.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for MQ servers because local compromise can become root compromise. Patch or formally risk-accept affected systems, especially those supporting payments, messaging backbones, regulated workflows, or shared administration environments.

Technical view

CVE-2018-1998 is a local code injection issue in IBM WebSphere MQ/IBM MQ caused by an incomplete fix for CVE-2018-1792. The CVSS 3.0 vector is local attack, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to IBM MQ/WebSphere MQ deployments running listed 8.0.0.x, 9.0.0.x, or 9.1.1 versions. It requires local authenticated access, so internet exposure alone is not the main risk.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. CVSS marks exploit maturity as unproven, while remediation level indicates an official fix exists.

Researcher notes

Key constraints are local attack vector and low required privileges. The issue is linked to an incomplete prior fix, so validation should confirm the specific IBM remediation state, not only the presence of earlier CVE-2018-1792 fixes.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory IBM MQ and WebSphere MQ servers and installed versions.
  • Prioritize affected MQ hosts with shared user access or high business criticality.
  • Apply IBM's advisory fix or supported fix pack guidance.
  • Restrict local shell and service-account access on MQ hosts.
  • Review IBM guidance before making compensating-control assumptions.

Validation and detection

  • Compare installed MQ versions against the affected version list.
  • Confirm IBM advisory remediation is applied on each affected host.
  • Review local user and service-account access to MQ servers.
  • Check privileged-process monitoring for suspicious activity around MQ components.
  • Document any deferred remediation with owner and target date.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2018-1998 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/A:H/AC:L/AV:L/C:H/I:H/PR:L/S:C/UI:N/E:U/RC:C/RL:O

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.8CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/A:H/AC:L/AV:L/C:H/I:H/PR:L/S:C/UI:N/E:U/RC:C/RL:O26Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2018-1998Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/A:H/AC:L/AV:L/C:H/I:H/PR:L/S:C/UI:N/E:U/RC:C/RL:O

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
IBMMQ9.0.0.1, 8.0.0.1, 8.0.0.2, 8.0.0.3, 8.0.0.4, 8.0.0.5, 8.0.0.6, 8.0.0.7, 9.0.0.2, 8.0.0.8, 8.0.0.9, 9.0.0.3, 8.0.0.0, 8.0.0.10, 9.0.0.0, 9.0.0.4, 9.0.0.5, 9.1.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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