CVE-2008-5686 in Tivoli Provisioning Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager (TPM) before 5.1.1.1 IF0006, when its LDAP service is shared with other applications, does not require that an LDAP user be listed in the TPM user records, which allows remote authenticated users to execute SOAP commands that access arbitrary TPM functionality, as demonstrated by running provisioning workflows.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5686 affects IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager versions prior to 5.1.1.1 IF0006, presenting a critical security flaw in the LDAP service integration. This issue arises from insufficient user authentication validation within the system's user management framework, creating a dangerous privilege escalation vector that undermines the security posture of organizations relying on this provisioning platform. The vulnerability specifically impacts environments where the TPM LDAP service is shared with other applications, exposing a fundamental flaw in the access control mechanisms that should enforce strict user identity verification.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing validation check that prevents the system from verifying whether an LDAP user has been properly registered in the TPM user records before granting access to SOAP commands. This oversight creates a scenario where authenticated users who exist in the LDAP directory but are not explicitly maintained in TPM's internal user database can still execute privileged operations through the SOAP interface. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of authentication and authorization controls, allowing attackers to bypass the normal user registration process that should serve as a gatekeeping mechanism for system access.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SOAP commands that provide access to all TPM functionality, including the ability to run provisioning workflows that can manipulate system resources and configurations. The attack surface extends beyond simple command execution to encompass complete provisioning workflows, potentially allowing attackers to deploy, modify, or delete system components. This capability represents a severe escalation from basic authentication bypass to full system compromise, particularly in enterprise environments where provisioning workflows often involve critical infrastructure management operations.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in authentication systems, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations utilizing shared LDAP services for TPM authentication face the highest risk, as the vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between the LDAP directory and TPM system. The attack requires minimal privileges beyond basic authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who have legitimate access to the LDAP service but lack proper TPM user registration.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper user registration procedures for all LDAP users within TPM, ensuring that the system validates user existence in both directories before granting access. Organizations should apply the vendor-provided patch for IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager 5.1.1.1 IF0006, which addresses this specific validation gap. Network segmentation and access control lists should be implemented to restrict SOAP service access, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized provisioning workflow execution. Additionally, regular user access reviews should be conducted to ensure that only authorized personnel maintain entries in both the LDAP directory and TPM user records, preventing the exploitation of this authentication bypass vulnerability.