CVE-2010-4549 in Lotus Notes Traveler
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Lotus Notes Traveler before 8.5.1.3 on the Nokia s60 device successfully performs a Replace Data operation for a prohibited application, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions via this operation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4549 represents a significant security flaw in IBM Lotus Notes Traveler version 8.5.1.2 and earlier releases when operating on Nokia s60 devices. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms that allow authenticated users to perform operations typically restricted to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability specifically manifests during Replace Data operations within the mobile synchronization framework, where the system fails to properly validate user permissions before executing sensitive data modification commands.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves a critical failure in the authorization checking process within the Lotus Notes Traveler mobile device management system. When a user attempts to perform a Replace Data operation on a prohibited application, the system should enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized modifications. However, the vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker to bypass these intended restrictions, effectively granting them elevated privileges that should be reserved for administrators or authorized system users. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited through legitimate authenticated sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification capabilities, as it enables attackers to manipulate critical enterprise data and potentially gain access to sensitive information stored on mobile devices synchronized through the Lotus Notes Traveler platform. Mobile device management systems serve as crucial gateways for enterprise data access, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in corporate environments where mobile synchronization is extensively used. The exploitation of this flaw could lead to unauthorized data access, modification of critical business information, and potential compromise of enterprise security policies that rely on proper access controls.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering through mobile device exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates how mobile device management systems can become attack vectors when proper authorization checks are not implemented or maintained. Organizations using IBM Lotus Notes Traveler on mobile platforms should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader mobile security posture assessment, particularly in environments where mobile device synchronization is critical for business operations.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of IBM Lotus Notes Traveler to version 8.5.1.3 or later, which includes the necessary access control improvements. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring of Replace Data operations within their mobile device management systems to detect anomalous activities. Network segmentation and access control policies should be reviewed to ensure that mobile device synchronization does not inadvertently provide unauthorized access to critical enterprise resources. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their mobile device management infrastructure to identify similar access control weaknesses that could be exploited in similar fashion.