CVE-2010-4121 in Tivoli Provisioning Manager Os Deployment
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** The TCP-to-ODBC gateway in IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager for OS Deployment 7.1.1.3 does not require authentication for SQL statements, which allows remote attackers to modify, create, or read database records via a session on TCP port 2020. NOTE: the vendor disputes this issue, stating that the "default Microsoft Access database is not password protected because it is intended to be used for evaluation purposes only."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-4121 pertains to a critical security flaw in IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager for OS Deployment version 7.1.1.3, specifically within its TCP-to-ODBC gateway component. This issue represents a significant authentication bypass vulnerability that affects the database access controls of the system. The flaw exists in the gateway's handling of SQL statements through TCP port 2020, which serves as the primary communication channel for database operations within the provisioning environment. The vulnerability has been classified as disputed by the vendor, who argues that the default Microsoft Access database is intentionally left unsecured for evaluation purposes, though this justification does not mitigate the inherent security risks present in production environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication mechanisms within the TCP-to-ODBC gateway interface. When remote attackers establish a session on TCP port 2020, they can execute arbitrary SQL commands without requiring any form of credential verification or authorization checks. This fundamental flaw allows unauthorized parties to perform complete database operations including data modification, creation of new records, and unauthorized data reading. The lack of authentication requirements creates an attack surface where any network-accessible system can exploit this weakness to gain direct database access, effectively bypassing all intended security controls and access management policies. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a classic example of weak access control implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables full database manipulation capabilities that can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of provisioning data. Attackers could potentially alter system configurations, modify deployment templates, corrupt provisioning records, or extract sensitive information about deployed systems and network configurations. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where Tivoli Provisioning Manager handles critical infrastructure deployment operations, as unauthorized modifications could lead to system instability, service disruptions, or even complete provisioning failures. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistence within the provisioning environment, potentially enabling long-term unauthorized access to the underlying database infrastructure.
Organizations utilizing this software should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including network segmentation to restrict access to TCP port 2020, implementing firewall rules to limit connections to trusted IP addresses only, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious database access patterns. The vendor's stance that the database is intentionally unsecured for evaluation purposes does not constitute a valid security posture for production environments, and organizations should consider upgrading to newer versions of the software that properly implement authentication mechanisms. Additionally, implementing network monitoring and logging of database access activities can help detect unauthorized access attempts and provide forensic evidence in case of security incidents. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication implementation in database gateway components and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers the use of unauthorized network access for data manipulation and extraction activities.