CVE-2010-3896 in OmniFind
Summary
by MITRE
The ESSearchApplication directory tree in IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition 8.x and 9.x does not require authentication, which allows remote attackers to modify the server configuration via a request to palette.do.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3896 resides within IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition versions 8.x and 9.x, specifically affecting the ESSearchApplication directory tree component. This represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected systems. The vulnerability stems from the improper configuration of the palette.do endpoint which serves as a critical interface for server configuration management. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions without providing valid credentials, effectively undermining the authentication mechanisms that should protect enterprise search infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper access control enforcement within the web application layer. When remote attackers send requests to the palette.do endpoint, they can manipulate server configuration parameters directly through the ESSearchApplication directory structure. This flaw operates at the application level and affects the authentication model that should normally validate user credentials before granting administrative privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the configuration management interface, allowing attackers to modify critical server parameters that control indexing behavior, search capabilities, and other fundamental operational aspects of the enterprise search platform.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations utilizing IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition. Remote attackers can potentially disrupt search services, modify indexing configurations, alter access controls, and compromise the integrity of enterprise search results. The implications extend beyond simple configuration changes since these modifications can affect data availability, search accuracy, and overall system performance. Organizations may experience service degradation or complete search service outages if attackers exploit this vulnerability to modify critical server parameters. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this flaw from any location without requiring physical access to the network or system infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software applications, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. The flaw also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to administrative interfaces. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate the vulnerable application, implementing additional authentication layers, and applying the latest security patches provided by IBM. The recommended approach involves restricting access to the palette.do endpoint through firewall rules, enabling proper authentication mechanisms, and conducting comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application stack. Regular monitoring of access logs for unauthorized requests to the ESSearchApplication directory should be implemented as part of ongoing security operations to detect potential exploitation attempts.