# CVE-2018-5338: Missing authorization in n/a

> Attackers can access database query mechanisms without authentication, potentially reading or modifying data in Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central.

- **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:** No
- **Published:** 18 Apr 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8cqr-fgf7-xh4v

## What is CVE-2018-5338?

CVE-2018-5338 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 18 Apr 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central 10.0.124 and 10.0.184: missing authentication/authorization for a database query mechanism.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-5338?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zohocorp Manageengine Desktop Central.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-5338?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-5338 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-5338 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-5338 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2021-44515](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44515/): Zoho Desktop Central Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-10189](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-10189/): Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central File Upload (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-7213](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7213/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-9371](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9371/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2020-15588](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15588/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-5338 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-5338 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 18 Apr 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-2018-5338 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2018-5338/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5338/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-5338
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-5338
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-5338

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5338/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.