CVE-2011-1381 in OpenPages GRC Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in IBM OpenPages GRC Platform 6.1.0.1 before IF4 allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1381 affects IBM OpenPages GRC Platform version 6.1.0.1 prior to IF4, representing a critical access control weakness that undermines the platform's security posture. This unspecified vulnerability resides within the access restriction mechanisms of the governance, risk management, and compliance platform, which is designed to protect sensitive organizational data and control user permissions across various business processes. The OpenPages platform serves as a comprehensive solution for enterprise risk management, providing features such as risk assessment, control monitoring, and compliance tracking that are essential for organizations operating under regulatory compliance requirements.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure in the platform's authorization controls, allowing remote attackers to circumvent intended access restrictions through unspecified attack vectors. This weakness creates a pathway for unauthorized individuals to gain access to restricted information, functionality, or resources within the system without proper authentication or authorization. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified suggests that the exact technical mechanism enabling the bypass remains undisclosed, which is common in early vulnerability disclosures or when the full scope of impact is not immediately apparent. The remote nature of the attack vector indicates that exploitation can occur from external networks without requiring physical access to the system infrastructure, significantly expanding the potential attack surface and threat landscape.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of critical business information. Organizations relying on OpenPages for compliance management, risk assessment, and governance activities face significant risks when unauthorized parties can bypass access controls. This includes potential exposure of sensitive risk data, compliance documentation, and business-critical information that could be used for competitive advantage or regulatory violations. The vulnerability undermines the platform's core security objectives and could lead to regulatory penalties, financial losses, and reputational damage for affected organizations. Given that OpenPages is typically deployed in enterprise environments with high-security requirements, the implications of such a bypass vulnerability are particularly severe for organizations operating in regulated industries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1381 should prioritize immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch or interim workaround as specified in IBM's security advisories. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor system logs for suspicious activities. Network segmentation and additional access controls can provide layered defense mechanisms while awaiting official patches. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics. Regular security updates, proper access control reviews, and enhanced monitoring procedures should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising the platform's security posture. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.