CVE-2007-0310 in Remedy Action Request System
Summary
by MITRE
BMC Remedy Action Request System 5.01.02 Patch 1267 generates different error messages for failed login attempts with a valid username than for those with an invalid username, which allows remote attackers to determine valid account names.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0310 affects BMC Remedy Action Request System version 5.01.02 Patch 1267, presenting a critical security flaw in the authentication mechanism that enables attackers to enumerate valid user accounts through subtle differences in error messaging. This issue stems from the system's inconsistent response handling during authentication attempts, where the application provides distinct error messages for different types of login failures. When an attacker submits a valid username with an incorrect password, the system generates one type of error response, whereas attempting to log in with an invalid username produces a different error message. This behavioral inconsistency creates a clear information disclosure channel that adversaries can exploit to systematically identify legitimate user accounts within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's authentication subsystem where proper error handling practices have not been implemented to maintain consistent responses regardless of the authentication outcome. From a cybersecurity perspective, this flaw directly relates to CWE-200, Information Exposure, and CWE-305, Authentication Bypass, as it enables credential stuffing attacks and facilitates further exploitation attempts. The inconsistency in error responses violates fundamental security principles that dictate all authentication failures should return identical generic messages to prevent account enumeration attacks. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer and requires no privileged access or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to attackers with basic network reconnaissance capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account enumeration, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks including brute force attempts, credential stuffing, and social engineering campaigns. Attackers can systematically test usernames against the system, using the differentiated error responses to identify valid accounts and then focus their efforts on cracking those specific credentials. The vulnerability affects the system's overall security posture by weakening the authentication controls and potentially exposing sensitive user data, especially in environments where user accounts may have elevated privileges or access to critical business systems. This flaw undermines the principle of least privilege and creates opportunities for unauthorized access that could lead to data breaches, system compromise, and regulatory compliance violations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including standardizing error messages for all authentication failures, implementing account lockout mechanisms after failed login attempts, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious login patterns. The recommended security controls align with ATT&CK technique T1110.003, Brute Force, and T1078.002, Valid Accounts, as they address the underlying attack vectors enabled by this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication, enforcing strong password policies, and regularly auditing authentication logs for potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should involve updating the application to a patched version, if available, or implementing application-level controls to ensure consistent error handling behavior that does not reveal account validity information to unauthorized parties.