CVE-2012-1837 in Tivoli Endpoint Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) webreports, (2) post/create-role, and (3) post/update-role programs in IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager (TEM) before 8.2 do not include the HTTPOnly flag in a Set-Cookie header for a cookie, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information via script access to this cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1837 affects IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager version 8.1 and earlier, specifically impacting three web-based components including webreports, post/create-role, and post/update-role programs. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the web application's session management implementation that directly violates established security best practices for cookie handling. The vulnerability stems from the absence of the HTTPOnly flag in Set-Cookie headers, a fundamental security measure that prevents client-side script access to sensitive session cookies.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-1004 which addresses the lack of proper protection against cross-site scripting attacks through insecure cookie attributes. When the HTTPOnly flag is omitted from a cookie, it allows malicious JavaScript code executed within the same domain to access the cookie content through document.cookie properties. This creates a significant attack surface for cross-site scripting exploitation where an attacker could potentially steal session tokens and gain unauthorized access to user accounts within the IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager environment. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web interface components that handle user authentication and authorization processes.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability compromises the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions within the IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager system. Attackers could leverage this weakness to execute persistent cross-site scripting attacks that would allow them to harvest session identifiers and potentially escalate privileges within the managed endpoint environment. The attack vector requires only a successful cross-site scripting payload delivery, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter malicious content or where the web application interfaces are exposed to untrusted users. This vulnerability directly undermines the security posture of endpoint management systems that rely on secure session handling for administrative access.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves implementing proper cookie security attributes including the HTTPOnly flag in all Set-Cookie headers generated by the affected IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager components. Organizations should upgrade to IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager version 8.2 or later where this security flaw has been addressed. Additionally, implementing comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and regular security assessments of web applications can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the broader application ecosystem. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious cookie access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development, particularly for systems managing critical endpoint security infrastructure. The remediation approach should align with ATT&CK technique T1566 which focuses on credential access through phishing and social engineering, as the vulnerability enables attackers to obtain session tokens that can be used for unauthorized access to privileged systems.