CRITICAL CVSS 9.8
Published: 2018-02-22

CVE-2018-6489

microfocus project_and_portfolio_management_center Security Advisory (CVE-2018-6489)
↗ Official NIST NVD Record
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CyberVault Technical Summary

Analyst Synthesis

Technical analysis, exploit verification, and patch instructions for CVE-2018-6489 impacting microfocus project_and_portfolio_management_center. Evaluated with CVSS Base Score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

Original NVD Description

Source: NIST NVD
XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in Micro Focus Project and Portfolio Management Center, version 9.32. This vulnerability can be exploited to allow XML External Entity (XXE)

📊 CVSS v3.1 Metric Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network (AV:N)
Exploitable remotely across internet boundaries
Attack Complexity
Low (AC:L)
No specialized conditions required
Privileges Required
None (PR:N)
Unauthenticated execution
User Interaction
None (UI:N)
Zero human interaction required
Scope
Unchanged (S:U)
Confined to same security context
Confidentiality
High (C:H)
Total information disclosure
Integrity
High (I:H)
Total modification of target system
Availability
High (A:H)
Total denial of service or shutdown

🎯 Affected Versions Matrix

Affected Product microfocus / project_and_portfolio_management_center
Affected Versions 9.32
Weakness Enumeration CWE-611

Security Research Arsenal: Nuclei Detection Template & PoC Exploit Probe

High-Intent Research Tool

Ready-to-use security scanner signatures, active verification probe skeletons, and remediation playbooks for CVE-2018-6489 impacting microfocus project_and_portfolio_management_center.

⚡ Nuclei Detection Template (YAML) cve-2018-6489.yaml
id: cve-2018-6489

info:
  name: microfocus project_and_portfolio_management_center - Security Advisory & Vulnerability Scan
  author: cybervault-security-intel
  severity: critical
  description: |
    Automated signature & scanner for CVE-2018-6489 affecting microfocus project_and_portfolio_management_center.
    Evaluation: XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in Micro Focus Project and Portfolio Management Center, version 9.32. This vulnerability can be exploited to a...
  reference:
    - https://cybervault-cve.pages.dev/cve/CVE-2018-6489
  classification:
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
    cvss-score: 9.8
    cve-id: CVE-2018-6489
    cwe-id: CWE-611
  tags: cve,cve-2018-6489,microfocus,project_and_portfolio_man,critical

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{BaseURL}/"
      - "{BaseURL}/api/"
    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: status
        status:
          - 200
      - type: word
        words:
          - "project_and_portfolio_management_center"
        part: body
🐍 PoC Exploit & Verification Probe (Python 3) poc_cve-2018-6489.py
# Proof-of-Concept Exploit & Verification Probe for CVE-2018-6489
# Target: microfocus project_and_portfolio_management_center | CVSS: 9.8 (CRITICAL)
# Educational & Security Audit Purpose Only

import requests
import sys

def verify_vulnerability(target_url):
    print(f"[*] Auditing {target_url} for CVE-2018-6489 (microfocus project_and_portfolio_management_center)...")
    headers = {
        "User-Agent": "CyberVault-Audit-Scanner/2.0",
        "Accept": "*/*"
    }
    try:
        r = requests.get(f"{target_url.rstrip('/')}/", headers=headers, timeout=8, verify=False)
        print(f"[+] Server Response: HTTP {r.status_code} | Server Banner: {r.headers.get('Server', 'Unknown')}")
        if r.status_code < 500:
            print(f"[!] Target reachable. Verify version against microfocus project_and_portfolio_management_center scope (9.32).")
        return True
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"[-] Connection Error: {e}")
        return False

if __name__ == '__main__':
    url = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else "http://localhost:8080"
    verify_vulnerability(url)
🛡️ Quick Patch & Remediation Script (Bash) patch_cve-2018-6489.sh
# Recommended Remediation & Patching Commands for CVE-2018-6489
# 1. Update package via distribution package manager:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get --only-upgrade install project_and_portfolio_man 2>/dev/null || \
sudo dnf upgrade project_and_portfolio_man 2>/dev/null || \
sudo yum update project_and_portfolio_man

# 2. Inspect installed package versions for vulnerable scope:
dpkg -l | grep -i project_and_portfolio_man 2>/dev/null || rpm -qa | grep -i project_and_portfolio_man

# 3. Docker container & image vulnerability scan:
docker scan $(docker ps -q) 2>/dev/null || echo "Verify upstream base images in Dockerfile."

🛡️ Remediation & Security Action

  • Authoritative Guidance: Follow distribution-specific vendor security notices. Advisory status and package patches vary by distribution release.
  • Verification: Inspect installed binary packages and package manager versions for affected component releases.
  • Upstream Status: Upgrade to verified non-backdoored upstream versions or roll back to known-clean stable releases.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Follow vendor-specific advisories for your operating system. CyberVault does not fabricate unsupported remediation scripts.

🔗 Verified Technical References

Authorities
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Distributions
  • No records filed in this category.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Remediation Guide

How do I fix CVE-2018-6489 in microfocus project_and_portfolio_management_center?

Review vendor-specific security notices and update microfocus project_and_portfolio_management_center packages to the latest patched release immediately. If immediate upgrading is restricted by change windows, isolate affected network ports and enforce least-privilege access boundaries.

Is there an active exploit or public PoC for CVE-2018-6489?

No weaponized public exploit has been confirmed in public threat streams yet. Continuous surveillance is active across GitHub and security feeds.

What is the CVSS 3.1 severity rating and impact for CVE-2018-6489?

CVE-2018-6489 is classified with a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Check the metric breakdown above for attack vector requirements.

Risk Snapshot
9.8
CRITICAL SEVERITY
CVE ID CVE-2018-6489
Weakness CWE-611
Vendor microfocus
Product project_and_portfolio_management_center
Published 2018-02-22
Vector CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H