CVE-2008-4294 in Tivoli Netcool Webtop
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Netcool/Webtop 2.1 before 2.1.0.5 preserves cached user privileges after logout, which allows physically proximate attackers to hijack a session by visiting an unattended workstation, as demonstrated by a root session that is still valid after a subsequent read-only session has begun.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2021
This vulnerability in IBM Tivoli Netcool/Webtop 2.1 before 2.1.0.5 represents a critical session management flaw that undermines the security of privileged access controls. The issue stems from improper session cleanup mechanisms that fail to invalidate cached user privileges when a user logs out of the system. This behavior creates a persistent security risk where session tokens remain active in memory even after legitimate logout procedures have been completed, allowing unauthorized individuals to exploit this weakness through physical proximity attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly destroy or invalidate session state information upon user logout. When a user authenticates to the system, the application caches their privileges and session data in memory for performance optimization purposes. However, the logout process does not adequately clear these cached credentials, leaving them accessible to anyone who gains physical access to the workstation. This flaw specifically affects the privilege escalation mechanisms within the application, where administrative privileges remain cached even after a regular user session has ended, creating a window of opportunity for session hijacking.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables what security professionals classify as a local privilege escalation attack vector. The demonstrated scenario shows how a root session can remain valid after a subsequent read-only session has begun, effectively allowing attackers to maintain administrative access to the system. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper session termination, as users who should have been logged out with reduced privileges can still access elevated functionality. The attack requires only physical proximity to an unattended workstation, making it particularly dangerous in shared or public environments.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-613, which addresses inadequate session management and improper session cleanup mechanisms. This weakness creates a direct pathway for attackers to exploit session tokens that should have been invalidated, representing a significant deviation from secure coding practices. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.001, which covers privilege escalation through abuse of session tokens and cached credentials. Organizations using this software face heightened risk of unauthorized access to sensitive network monitoring and management functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper session invalidation protocols that ensure all cached privileges are cleared upon logout. Organizations should immediately upgrade to IBM Tivoli Netcool/Webtop 2.1.0.5 or later versions that address this specific vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing automatic session timeouts, enforcing strict access controls for unattended workstations, and deploying physical security measures such as secure workstations and restricted access areas. Network administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual privilege escalation patterns and unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that all cached session data is properly cleared and that the application properly enforces session lifecycle management throughout the authentication and authorization process.