CVE-2009-5002 in FileNet P8 Application Engine
Summary
by MITRE
The Workplace (aka WP) component in IBM FileNet P8 Application Engine (P8AE) 4.0.2.x before 4.0.2.1-P8AE-FP001 does not record Get Content Failure Audit events, which might allow remote attackers to attempt content access without detection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-5002 affects IBM FileNet P8 Application Engine version 4.0.2.x prior to 4.0.2.1, specifically within the Workplace component. This security flaw represents a significant oversight in the system's audit logging capabilities, creating a potential blind spot in the organization's security monitoring infrastructure. The issue stems from the component's failure to properly record audit events when content retrieval operations fail, which fundamentally undermines the integrity of the system's security logging mechanisms and creates opportunities for unauthorized access attempts to go undetected.
The technical flaw manifests in the absence of audit event recording for failed content access attempts, specifically when the Get Content operation fails. This represents a violation of fundamental security logging principles and can be categorized under CWE-778, which deals with insufficient logging of security-relevant events. The vulnerability essentially creates a scenario where malicious actors can attempt unauthorized access to content without leaving any trace in the system's audit logs, making it extremely difficult for security operations teams to detect and respond to potential security incidents. The failure to log these events creates a false sense of security and removes critical forensic data that would normally be available for incident investigation and compliance auditing purposes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it allows remote attackers to engage in content access attempts without detection, potentially leading to data exfiltration, unauthorized information disclosure, or other malicious activities. This weakness directly impacts the CIA triad, particularly confidentiality and integrity, as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive content while simultaneously compromising the system's ability to detect such activities. The vulnerability affects the system's audit trail capabilities, which are essential for maintaining accountability and compliance with various regulatory frameworks. Organizations relying on this component may experience security incidents going unnoticed for extended periods, potentially allowing attackers to conduct prolonged reconnaissance or execute more sophisticated attacks without detection.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate deployment of the vendor-provided fix version 4.0.2.1-P8AE-FP001, which addresses the audit logging deficiency in the Workplace component. Organizations should also implement enhanced monitoring procedures to detect anomalous access patterns and establish additional logging mechanisms that can compensate for the missing audit events. Security teams should conduct comprehensive reviews of their existing audit logging configurations and ensure that all security-relevant events are properly recorded and monitored. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.006, which involves disabling or modifying security tools, as the failure to log security events effectively disables the system's ability to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive audit logging as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 control SI-7, which emphasizes the need for system-generated audit logs to detect security events. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based monitoring solutions and behavioral analytics to supplement the missing audit capabilities and maintain visibility into potential security incidents.