Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-6439 affects Brocade Fabric OS. A user with local CLI access could abuse the configdownload command to escape the restricted shell and gain root access. This is serious for Fibre Channel infrastructure because root access can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of switch operations.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation on production storage fabric switches and any device with multiple administrators or remote management exposure. Treat this as high urgency where untrusted or broadly privileged users can access the CLI.
Technical view
The CVE describes a local privilege escalation in the Brocade Fabric OS CLI configdownload command. A low-privileged local attacker can escape the restricted shell and obtain root privileges. Affected versions are before 8.2.1, 8.1.2f, 8.0.2f, and 7.4.2d. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8, AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to environments where users or processes can access the Brocade Fabric OS CLI locally or through permitted management channels. The highest concern is shared administrative environments, compromised operator accounts, or weakly controlled management access.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation. Exploitation requires local privileges, but successful exploitation could provide root control over affected Fabric OS devices.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Broadcom advisory reference in the source bundle. No CWE, exploit details, or active exploitation evidence were provided. The core issue is restricted-shell escape through configdownload leading to root access.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Brocade Fabric OS to 8.2.1, 8.1.2f, 8.0.2f, 7.4.2d, or later applicable fixed releases.
- Review Broadcom advisory 2018-730 for product-specific upgrade guidance.
- Restrict CLI access to trusted administrators only.
- Audit local and remote management account access on affected switches.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Brocade Fabric OS versions across Fibre Channel switches.
- Identify systems running versions before 8.2.1, 8.1.2f, 8.0.2f, or 7.4.2d.
- Confirm whether configdownload access is available to non-root or restricted-shell users.
- Check administrative logs for unusual CLI activity or privilege changes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-2018-6439 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.broadcom.com/support/fibre-channel-networking/security-advisories/brocade-security-advisory-2018-730CVE reference, brocade · x_refsource_CONFIRM
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.