# CVE-2018-1552: File upload in Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by uploading malicious files due to missing file type restrictions in IBM Robotic Process Automation.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.0/A:L/AC:L/AV:N/C:L/I:L/PR:L/S:U/UI:R/E:U/RC:C/RL:O`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Nov 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-f8hq-m4jp-88m5

## What is CVE-2018-1552?

CVE-2018-1552 is a medium-severity vulnerability in IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere, published on 2 Nov 2018. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere 10.0 and 11.0 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by a missing restriction in which file types can be uploaded to the control room. By uploading a malicious file and tricking a victim to run it, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 142889.

Weakness: CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-1552?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Robotic Process Automation With Automation Anywhere.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-1552?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-1552 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-1552 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-1552 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere

- [CVE-2018-1547](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1547/): Code injection in Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere (high 8.0)
- [CVE-2019-4298](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4298/): Privilege escalation in Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere (high 7.7)
- [CVE-2019-4336](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4336/): Security feature bypass in Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-4297](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4297/): Other in Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere (medium 6.4)
- [CVE-2018-1876](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1876/): Information disclosure in Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere (medium 6.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-1552 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-1552 is a medium-severity vulnerability in IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere, published on 2 Nov 2018. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-1552 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere. 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-2018-1552/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1552/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-1552
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-1552
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-1552

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1552/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.