CVE-2018-12338: Undocumented Factory Backdoor in ECOS System Management Appliance (aka SMA) 5.2.68 allows the vendor to extrac

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CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2018-12338 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting system management appliance. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Undocumented Factory Backdoor in ECOS System Management Appliance (aka SMA) 5.2.68 allows the vendor to extract confidential information and manipulate security relevant configurations via remote root SSH access.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.5% (top 26%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2018-06-17
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: ecos

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-06-17 16:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:37 UTCUpdated Record last modified

ecos system management appliance DOWNGRADE

Affected: 5.2.68

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.2.68

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy system-management-appliance || rpm -q system-management-appliance || system-management-appliance --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.2.68 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison system-management-appliance sudo apt install system-management-appliance=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.2.68> sudo apt-mark hold system-management-appliance

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list system-management-appliance sudo dnf downgrade system-management-appliance-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.2.68> sudo dnf versionlock add system-management-appliance

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2018-12338?

system management appliance: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-12338 being exploited?

CVE-2018-12338 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2018-12338 affect?

CVE-2018-12338 affects system management appliance. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Undocumented Factory Backdoor in ECOS System Management Appliance (aka SMA) 5.2.68 allows the vendor to extract confidential information and manipulate security relevant configurations via remote root SSH access.

How urgent is CVE-2018-12338?

Priority 58/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2018-12335 HIGH 7.3 DOWNGRADE Incorrect access control in ECOS System Management Appliance (aka SMA) 5.2.68 allows a user to compromise auth
CVE-2018-12331 HIGH 7.4 DOWNGRADE Authentication Bypass by Spoofing vulnerability in ECOS System Management Appliance (aka SMA) 5.2.68 allows a

References

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