CVE-2012-0734 in Rational AppScan
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational AppScan Enterprise 5.x and 8.x before 8.5.0.1 does not properly import jobs, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to obtain sensitive information or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted job.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2018
IBM Rational AppScan Enterprise versions 5.x and 8.x prior to 8.5.0.1 contain a critical security vulnerability in their job import functionality that creates a significant attack surface for man-in-the-middle adversaries. This flaw resides in the software's inability to properly validate and authenticate imported job configurations, allowing attackers positioned between the client and server to intercept and manipulate job data during transmission. The vulnerability stems from insufficient cryptographic validation mechanisms and weak authentication checks during the import process, which violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. The technical implementation fails to establish proper secure communication channels, leaving job configurations susceptible to interception and modification attacks that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive scanning parameters and results.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for attackers to manipulate scan jobs and potentially gain unauthorized access to critical system resources. Attackers could craft malicious job files that, when imported, would execute unintended commands or redirect scan targets to malicious endpoints, effectively compromising the entire application security testing infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-319 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, representing a severe degradation of the security posture for organizations relying on these tools for critical vulnerability assessments. The attack vector is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where AppScan is used for comprehensive security testing across multiple applications and systems.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Rational AppScan Enterprise face significant risks including potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive application environments, and compromised security testing integrity. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized modifications to scan configurations, potentially allowing them to bypass security controls or redirect scanning activities to target specific systems. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of IBM's security patches and updates to version 8.5.0.1 or later, implementation of network monitoring to detect anomalous job import activities, and enforcement of secure communication protocols using TLS 1.2 or higher for all job transmission. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls around AppScan environments, along with regular security audits of job configurations to detect unauthorized modifications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers could leverage this weakness to craft convincing phishing campaigns targeting system administrators. Additionally, implementing proper certificate validation and ensuring all communication channels maintain authenticated and encrypted connections would significantly reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.