CVE-2012-2183 in Tivoli Service Request Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Session fixation vulnerability in IBM Maximo Asset Management 6.2 through 7.5, as used in SmartCloud Control Desk, Tivoli Asset Management for IT, Tivoli Service Request Manager, Maximo Service Desk, and Change and Configuration Management Database (CCMDB), allows remote attackers to hijack web sessions via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2017
The CVE-2012-2183 vulnerability represents a critical session fixation flaw affecting multiple IBM Maximo products including Asset Management 6.2 through 7.5 and related systems such as SmartCloud Control Desk, Tivoli Asset Management for IT, Tivoli Service Request Manager, Maximo Service Desk, and CCMDB. This vulnerability stems from the improper handling of web session identifiers within the authentication mechanisms of these enterprise asset management platforms. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit session management weaknesses and potentially gain unauthorized access to user sessions without requiring valid credentials. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-384 as session fixation, which directly impacts the integrity of authentication processes and user session security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly regenerate session identifiers upon successful authentication or when it reuses session tokens across different user contexts. Attackers can exploit this by obtaining a valid session identifier from a victim, then using that same identifier to impersonate the user and gain unauthorized access to their privileges and data within the Maximo environment. This particular weakness affects the core web application framework where session management is handled, creating a persistent security gap that remains active throughout the application lifecycle. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through various attack surfaces including web forms, API endpoints, or direct session token manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, privilege escalation, and system compromise within enterprise environments. Organizations utilizing these Maximo products face significant risks as attackers can leverage session fixation to maintain persistent access to critical asset management systems, potentially affecting inventory tracking, maintenance scheduling, and service request management processes. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Maximo is deployed for managing sensitive IT assets, service requests, and configuration data, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt business operations or extract confidential information. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising both confidentiality and integrity of the system, as unauthorized users can access restricted data and potentially modify system configurations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including proper session regeneration upon authentication, implementing secure session management protocols, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious session token behavior. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1563.002 for "Access Token Manipulation" and T1133 for "External Remote Services" as attackers may leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to enterprise systems. Recommended solutions include upgrading to patched versions of the affected IBM Maximo products, implementing proper session timeout mechanisms, and conducting thorough security assessments of all web application components. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation, monitoring for unusual session activity, and implementing multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential session hijacking attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper session management in enterprise applications and highlights the need for continuous security testing and patch management processes.