CVE-2012-3323 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 6.2 before 6.2.8, 7.1 before 7.1.1.12, and 7.5 before 7.5.0.3 allows remote attackers to gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3323 affects IBM Maximo Asset Management versions prior to specific patch releases, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this enterprise asset management platform. This privilege escalation vulnerability exists across multiple version lines including 6.2 before 6.2.8, 7.1 before 7.1.1.12, and 7.5 before 7.5.0.3, indicating a widespread issue that impacts the core authentication and authorization mechanisms of the system. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be exploited through various attack paths, making it particularly dangerous as defenders struggle to identify all potential exploitation methods.
The technical flaw resides in the privilege escalation mechanism within IBM Maximo Asset Management, where attackers can potentially elevate their access rights without proper authentication or authorization checks. This type of vulnerability typically stems from inadequate input validation, improper access control implementation, or flawed session management within the application's security architecture. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access control issues, and may also relate to CWE-250, dealing with execution with unnecessary privileges, or CWE-276, concerning insecure default permissions. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that the flaw could be present in multiple areas of the application's security model including user authentication, role-based access control, or administrative function calls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it allows remote attackers to gain elevated privileges without requiring legitimate credentials or authorization. This means that an attacker could potentially access sensitive data, modify critical system configurations, or perform administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The remote exploitation capability significantly increases the attack surface, as attackers do not need physical access or network proximity to the system. Organizations using affected versions of IBM Maximo Asset Management face risks of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations, particularly in industries where asset management systems contain sensitive operational data or comply with strict regulatory requirements such as those in manufacturing, utilities, or healthcare sectors.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches for IBM Maximo Asset Management versions 6.2.8, 7.1.1.12, and 7.5.0.3 to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the Maximo application to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous privilege escalation attempts or unusual administrative activities within the system. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1078, which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials, and T1484, concerning domain policy modification, as attackers could potentially establish persistent access through privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the broader IT infrastructure, particularly focusing on authentication and authorization controls within enterprise applications.