CVE-2012-4816 in Rational Automation Framework
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Automation Framework (RAF) 3.x through 3.0.0.5 allows remote attackers to bypass intended Env Gen Wizard (aka Environment Generation Wizard) access restrictions by visiting context roots in HTTP sessions on port 8080.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4816 affects IBM Rational Automation Framework version 3.x through 3.0.0.5, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise automation environments. This issue resides within the Env Gen Wizard component, also known as the Environment Generation Wizard, which is designed to facilitate controlled configuration and deployment processes within the RAF framework. The vulnerability manifests when attackers exploit improper session handling mechanisms to bypass intended access restrictions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive automation workflows and environment configurations.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation of HTTP session contexts when accessing specific URL endpoints through port 8080. The RAF application fails to properly enforce authentication and authorization checks for the Env Gen Wizard functionality, allowing unauthenticated users to traverse the application's context roots and access restricted wizard interfaces. This occurs because the system does not adequately verify session state or user permissions before granting access to administrative components, creating a pathway for privilege escalation through session manipulation or direct URL access. The vulnerability specifically impacts the HTTP session management implementation, where context root paths are accessible without proper authentication barriers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to manipulate environment configurations and potentially compromise the integrity of automated deployment processes. Security researchers have classified this issue as a direct violation of the principle of least privilege, where users with minimal access could gain access to critical environment generation capabilities. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require complex attack vectors or specialized tools, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where RAF is used for continuous integration and deployment automation. This flaw could lead to unauthorized code deployment, environment corruption, or the compromise of sensitive configuration data that controls automated workflows.
Organizations utilizing IBM Rational Automation Framework should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest available versions that address the access control flaw, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to port 8080, and enforcing proper authentication mechanisms for all application endpoints. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as attackers could leverage this flaw to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive automation environments. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, conducting regular security assessments of application endpoints, and establishing proper network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to the affected context roots.