CVE-2012-2455 in DTE Axiom
Summary
by MITRE
Advanced Productivity Software DTE Axiom before 12.3.3 does not validate the registration ID, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and read or modify data about users, customers, and projects via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2455 affects Advanced Productivity Software DTE Axiom versions prior to 12.3.3, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the software's security architecture. This weakness stems from inadequate validation of registration IDs within the system's authentication mechanism, creating a pathway for unauthorized actors to gain elevated privileges and access sensitive information. The vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient authentication validation, which is classified as CWE-287 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, highlighting the fundamental flaw in the software's trust model where registration identifiers are not properly verified before granting access rights.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit the system through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulating registration ID parameters during the authentication process. Attackers can leverage this weakness to bypass the normal authentication procedures and gain unauthorized access to user data, customer information, and project details within the DTE Axiom environment. This represents a significant operational risk as the vulnerability enables both read and write access to sensitive organizational data, potentially leading to data exfiltration, unauthorized modifications, and system compromise. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple entry points may exist within the application's authentication flow, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various means including network-based attacks or direct system manipulation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations using affected versions of DTE Axiom, as it allows attackers to access confidential business information including user credentials, customer records, and project data that may contain sensitive business intelligence. The ability to both read and modify data means that attackers could not only steal information but also alter project timelines, customer details, or user permissions, potentially causing significant disruption to business operations. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the authentication bypass techniques, where adversaries seek to circumvent security controls to gain access to protected resources. The impact extends beyond immediate data compromise to include potential business continuity issues, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage that organizations may face as a result of unauthorized access to their critical systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to DTE Axiom version 12.3.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the registration ID validation flaw. Security administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected system, monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts, and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of related systems. Additional defensive measures may include strengthening access controls, implementing multi-factor authentication where possible, and establishing robust audit trails to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms in enterprise software, as highlighted by industry best practices in secure software development and the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security risks.