# CVE-2018-12465: Remote Code Execution in Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway

> Privileged users can execute arbitrary OS commands via the web admin interface, potentially leading to full server compromise when chained with other vulnerabilities.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Jun 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-ch8c-p3pw-fg7f

## What is CVE-2018-12465?

CVE-2018-12465 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway, published on 29 Jun 2018. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An OS command injection vulnerability in the web administration component of Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway (SMG) allows a remote attacker authenticated as a privileged user to execute arbitrary OS commands on the SMG server. This can be exploited in conjunction with CVE-2018-12464 to achieve unauthenticated remote code execution. Affects Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway versions prior to 471. It does not affect previous versions of the product that used GWAVA product name (i.e. GWAVA 6.5).

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command), CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-12465?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microfocus Secure Messaging Gateway.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-12465?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-12465 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-12465 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-12465 exists.

Public exploit code:

- MicroFocus Secure Messaging Gateway Remote Code Execution (metasploit)
- Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway (SMG) < 471 - Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway (SMG) < 471 - Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway

- [CVE-2018-12464](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12464/): Unauthenticated SQL injection in Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2020-11852](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11852/): Command injection in Secure Messaging Gateway ( SMG). (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-12465 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-12465 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway, published on 29 Jun 2018. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-12465 exists.

Affected product: Micro Focus Secure Messaging Gateway. 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-2018-12465/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12465/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12465
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12465
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-12465

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12465/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.