CVE-2018-8979: Open-AudIT Professional 2.1 has CSRF, as demonstrated by modifying a user account or inserting XSS sequences v

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HIGH 8.8DOWNGRADE

CVE-2018-8979 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) affecting open-audit. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Open-AudIT Professional 2.1 has CSRF, as demonstrated by modifying a user account or inserting XSS sequences via the credentials URI.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.8 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	1.2% (top 31%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-79, CWE-352
Published	2018-03-25
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: open-audit

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-03-25 19:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:05 UTCUpdated Record last modified

open-audit open-audit DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy open-audit || rpm -q open-audit || open-audit --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison open-audit sudo apt install open-audit=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.1> sudo apt-mark hold open-audit

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

dnf --showduplicates list open-audit sudo dnf downgrade open-audit-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.1> sudo dnf versionlock add open-audit

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.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: Open-AuditIT Professional 2.1 - Cross-Site Request Forgery

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-2018-8979?

open-audit: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-8979 being exploited?

CVE-2018-8979 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-2018-8979 affect?

CVE-2018-8979 affects open-audit. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). Open-AudIT Professional 2.1 has CSRF, as demonstrated by modifying a user account or inserting XSS sequences via the credentials URI.

How urgent is CVE-2018-8979?

Priority 53/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2021-44674 MEDIUM 6.5 DOWNGRADE An information exposure issue has been discovered in Opmantek Open-AudIT 4.2.0
CVE-2021-44916 MEDIUM 6.1 UPGRADE Opmantek Open-AudIT Community 4.2.0 (Fixed in 4.3.0) is affected by a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability
CVE-2021-40612 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE An issue was discovered in Opmantek Open-AudIT after 3.5.0
CVE-2021-3333 MEDIUM 6.1 DOWNGRADE Opmantek Open-AudIT 4.0.1 is affected by cross-site scripting (XSS)
CVE-2021-3130 MEDIUM 5.9 UPGRADE Within the Open-AudIT up to version 3.5.3 application, the web interface hides SSH secrets, Windows passwords,

References

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