CVE-2012-3310 in Tivoli Federated Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Federated Identity Manager (TFIM) before 6.1.1.14, 6.2.0 before 6.2.0.12, and 6.2.1 before 6.2.1.4 allows context-dependent attackers to discover (1) a cleartext LDAP Bind Password, (2) keystore passwords, (3) a cleartext Basic Authentication password from a client, or (4) a cleartext user password by leveraging a logging configuration with a log trace setting of all.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2018
IBM Tivoli Federated Identity Manager versions prior to 6.1.1.14, 6.2.0.12, and 6.2.1.4 contain a critical logging configuration vulnerability that enables context-dependent attackers to extract sensitive authentication credentials through improper trace level settings. This vulnerability resides in the system's logging subsystem where administrators can configure log trace levels to capture detailed operational information. When the log trace setting is configured to "all" or equivalent verbose levels, the system inadvertently logs sensitive data including cleartext LDAP bind passwords, keystore passwords, basic authentication credentials, and user passwords without proper sanitization or encryption. The flaw represents a direct violation of security best practices and demonstrates poor input validation and output filtering mechanisms within the logging infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the lack of proper credential sanitization in the logging framework. When trace levels are set to capture all system activities, the logging mechanism fails to distinguish between normal operational data and sensitive authentication information. This creates an information disclosure scenario where attackers can access system logs through various means including direct file access, log viewing interfaces, or through compromised system accounts with appropriate permissions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, Information Exposure Through Logging, and CWE-312, Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information, while also mapping to ATT&CK technique T1070.004, Indicator Removal on Host, as attackers may attempt to cover their tracks by examining logs for credential exposure. The context-dependent nature of the attack means that successful exploitation requires knowledge of the system's logging configuration and potentially administrative access to modify trace settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate credential theft to encompass broader security compromise scenarios. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to identity federation services, potentially compromising entire user directories and authentication systems. The exposure of LDAP bind passwords allows attackers to authenticate as the federated identity manager service account, potentially enabling lateral movement within the network. Keystore password exposure can lead to decryption of encrypted data and compromise of additional security certificates. The revelation of basic authentication passwords from clients and user passwords creates opportunities for account takeover and persistent access to federated identity services. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on TFIM for identity federation, as it undermines the core security assumptions of the identity management infrastructure. The attack surface is expanded when considering that many organizations maintain long-term log retention policies, meaning that credential exposure could persist for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through patching to the latest supported versions of IBM Tivoli Federated Identity Manager. Organizations should implement strict log configuration controls that prevent trace levels from being set to verbose modes without explicit authorization and security review. The logging configuration should include automatic sanitization of sensitive data fields before logging, implementing the principle of least privilege for log file access, and establishing regular log review procedures to detect unauthorized configuration changes. Security teams must ensure that log files are properly secured with restricted access controls, and that sensitive information is either encrypted at rest or filtered out during the logging process. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect when trace levels are modified to verbose settings, as this represents a potential security incident requiring immediate investigation. The remediation efforts should also include comprehensive security awareness training for system administrators regarding the risks of excessive logging and the importance of proper credential handling practices.