# CVE-2018-4073: Missing authorization in Sierra Wireless

> An authenticated attacker can arbitrarily modify system settings via the EmbeddedAceSet_Task.cgi endpoint, potentially escalating privileges or altering device configuration.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 May 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4mhq-mfhv-hjcw

## What is CVE-2018-4073?

CVE-2018-4073 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Sierra Wireless, published on 6 May 2019. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An exploitable Permission Assignment vulnerability exists in the ACEManager EmbeddedAceSet_Task.cgi functionality of Sierra Wireless AirLink ES450 FW 4.9.3. The the binary the endpoint /cgi-bin/Embeded_Ace_TLSet_Task.cgi is a very similar endpoint that is designed for use with setting table values that can cause an arbitrary setting writes, resulting in the unverified changes to any system setting. An attacker can make an authenticated HTTP request, or run the binary as any user, to trigger this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-4073?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sierrawireless Airlink Es450 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-4073?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-4073 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-4073 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-4073 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Sierra Wireless

- [CVE-2018-4061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4061/): Command injection in Sierra Wireless (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-4066](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4066/): Cross-site request forgery in Sierra Wireless (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-4070](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4070/): Information disclosure in Sierra Wireless (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-4071](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4071/): Information disclosure in Sierra Wireless (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-4072](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4072/): Missing authorization in Sierra Wireless (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-4073 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-4073 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Sierra Wireless, published on 6 May 2019. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-4073 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Sierra Wireless. 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-2018-4073/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4073/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-4073
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-4073
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-4073

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4073/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.