CVE-2010-3018 in Access Manager Server
Summary
by MITRE
RSA Access Manager Server 5.5.3 before 5.5.3.172, 6.0.4 before 6.0.4.53, and 6.1 before 6.1.2.01 does not properly perform cache updates, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3018 affects RSA Access Manager Server versions prior to specific patch releases, creating a significant security risk through improper cache update mechanisms. This flaw exists within the authentication and authorization infrastructure of RSA's access management solution, which is widely deployed in enterprise environments for securing user access to critical systems and applications. The affected versions include RSA Access Manager Server 5.5.3 before 5.5.3.172, 6.0.4 before 6.0.4.53, and 6.1 before 6.1.2.01, indicating a broad impact across multiple major releases of the platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate cache management during authentication processes, where the system fails to properly invalidate or update cached authentication tokens and session information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote attack vectors that leverage the improper cache update mechanisms to gain access to sensitive information. Attackers can potentially retrieve cached authentication data, session tokens, or other confidential information that should not be accessible to unauthorized parties. This represents a classic cache poisoning or cache injection attack pattern that violates fundamental security principles of information flow control and access isolation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and potentially CWE-358, concerning "Improperly Implemented Security Check for Standard" in authentication contexts. The flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and obtain unauthorized information through manipulation of the caching layer that should maintain strict separation between different user sessions and authentication states.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to complete compromise of the authentication infrastructure. Organizations relying on RSA Access Manager Server for securing their access control systems face potential unauthorized access to protected resources, including corporate networks, applications, and sensitive data repositories. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from outside the organization's network perimeter, making it particularly dangerous for enterprises with remote access requirements. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the authentication system, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users, escalate privileges, or conduct advanced persistent threats that leverage the cached authentication data for extended access periods. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this affects multiple versions of the software, increasing the potential target pool for attackers.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including deployment of the vendor-supplied patches for RSA Access Manager Server versions 5.5.3.172, 6.0.4.53, and 6.1.2.01, which address the specific cache update implementation issues. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, with particular attention to unusual authentication patterns or cache-related anomalies. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across all RSA Access Manager deployments and implement continuous monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before production deployment to ensure system stability and prevent service disruptions. Additionally, organizations should review their access control policies and implement additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication and enhanced session management to reduce the overall risk exposure. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cache management in security-critical systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through exploitation of authentication mechanisms.