# CVE-2018-14649: Code injection in ceph-iscsi-cli

> Unauthenticated attackers can access a debug shell in ceph-iscsi-cli to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges due to enabled Werkzeug debug mode.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 9 Oct 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vq9p-965j-5xf8, RHSA-2018:2837, RHSA-2018:2838

## What is CVE-2018-14649?

CVE-2018-14649 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, published on 9 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

It was found that ceph-isci-cli package as shipped by Red Hat Ceph Storage 2 and 3 is using python-werkzeug in debug shell mode. This is done by setting debug=True in file /usr/bin/rbd-target-api provided by ceph-isci-cli package. This allows unauthenticated attackers to access this debug shell and escalate privileges. Once an attacker has successfully connected to this debug shell they will be able to execute arbitrary commands remotely. These commands will run with the same privileges as of user executing the application which is using python-werkzeug with debug shell mode enabled. In - Red Hat Ceph Storage 2 and 3, ceph-isci-cli package runs python-werkzeug library with root level permissions.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-14649?

It affects 5 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `ceph-iscsi-cli` | Red Hat:ceph_storage:2::el7 | All versions | 0:2.0-7.el7cp |
| `ceph-iscsi-cli` | Red Hat:ceph_storage:3::el7 | All versions | 0:2.7-7.el7cp |

Products: Redhat Ceph-Iscsi-Cli, Redhat Ceph Storage, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-14649?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2018-14649 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-14649 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-14649 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-14649 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, published on 9 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-14649 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop. 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-2018-14649/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14649/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14649
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14649
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-14649

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14649/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.