CVE-2011-4816 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the KPI component in IBM Maximo Asset Management and Asset Management Essentials 6.2, 7.1, and 7.5; IBM Tivoli Asset Management for IT 6.2, 7.1, and 7.2; IBM Tivoli Service Request Manager 7.1 and 7.2; IBM Maximo Service Desk 6.2; and IBM Tivoli Change and Configuration Management Database (CCMDB) 6.2, 7.1, and 7.2 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4816 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the KPI component of several IBM asset management and service management products. This security weakness affects multiple versions of IBM Maximo Asset Management and Asset Management Essentials, IBM Tivoli Asset Management for IT, IBM Tivoli Service Request Manager, IBM Maximo Service Desk, and IBM Tivoli Change and Configuration Management Database. The vulnerability specifically resides in the KPI (Key Performance Indicator) component, which is designed to provide analytical reporting and performance metrics within these enterprise asset management platforms. The flaw allows remote authenticated attackers to manipulate database queries through unspecified input vectors, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The KPI component in these IBM products processes user inputs to generate performance reports and analytics, creating an attack surface where maliciously crafted input can be interpreted as SQL commands rather than data. This occurs when the application fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into database queries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple IBM products within the same ecosystem, suggesting a common architectural flaw or code pattern that was inherited across these platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database systems. This capability allows for complete database compromise, including unauthorized access to sensitive asset information, user credentials, service requests, and configuration data. The remote authenticated nature of the attack means that an attacker with valid credentials can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the system. This scenario is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these applications manage critical infrastructure assets, service requests, and configuration data that could be leveraged for further attacks or business disruption. The vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges, modify asset records, or even delete critical configuration data that affects system functionality.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates released to address this specific SQL injection flaw. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the number of authenticated users with access to the KPI components. Input validation and parameterized queries should be implemented or enhanced to prevent malicious SQL code from being executed. Security monitoring should be increased to detect anomalous database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input sanitization in enterprise applications, particularly those handling sensitive business data. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent unauthorized SQL command execution. Given the widespread nature of affected IBM products, comprehensive vulnerability assessment and penetration testing should be conducted across all impacted systems to identify potential exploitation attempts and ensure proper remediation has been implemented. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for regular security updates and the importance of maintaining secure coding standards throughout the application lifecycle, particularly in complex enterprise management systems that process large volumes of sensitive data.