# CVE-2018-11138: Quest KACE System Management Appliance Remote Command Execution

> Anonymous users can execute arbitrary commands on the Quest KACE System Management Appliance via a vulnerable download script.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 25 Mar 2022 (CISA KEV), used in ransomware
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 31 May 2018
- **Updated:** 13 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8m62-73pq-x847

## What is CVE-2018-11138?

CVE-2018-11138 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 31 May 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The '/common/download_agent_installer.php' script in the Quest KACE System Management Appliance 8.0.318 is accessible by anonymous users and can be abused to execute arbitrary commands on the system.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-11138?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Quest Kace System Management Appliance.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-11138?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-11138 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 15 Apr 2022.

## Is CVE-2018-11138 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-11138 in the wild since at least 25 Mar 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

Public exploit code:

- Quest KACE Systems Management Command Injection (metasploit)
- Quest KACE Systems Management - Command Injection (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- Quest KACE Systems Management - Command Injection (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- Quest KACE Systems Management - Command Injection (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- Quest KACE System Management Appliance 8.0.318 - Remote Code Execution (nuclei): http/cves/2018/CVE-2018-11138.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2018-11136](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11136/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-11140](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11140/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-11141](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11141/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-11132](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11132/): Command injection in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-11134](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11134/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-11138 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-11138 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 31 May 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-11138 in the wild since at least 25 Mar 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11138/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11138/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-11138
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11138
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-11138

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11138/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.