CVE-2012-5940 in Netezza
Summary
by MITRE
The WebAdmin application 6.0.5, 6.0.8, and 7.0 before P2 in IBM Netezza, when SSL is not enabled, allows remote attackers to discover credentials by sniffing the network during the authentication process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5940 affects the WebAdmin application component of IBM Netezza versions 6.0.5, 6.0.8, and 7.0 before patch level P2. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the authentication process when the system operates without SSL encryption. The vulnerability resides in the manner in which authentication credentials are transmitted over the network, creating an avenue for malicious actors to intercept sensitive information during the login sequence. The flaw specifically manifests when SSL/TLS encryption is disabled, leaving the communication channel vulnerable to eavesdropping attacks that can capture authentication data in transit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly secure authentication communications when SSL is not enabled. During the authentication process, user credentials are transmitted in plaintext format over the network, allowing attackers positioned within the same network segment to capture these credentials through network sniffing techniques. This weakness aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of data that should remain confidential. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's security design where the absence of encryption is not properly mitigated through alternative security measures. The authentication process does not implement proper credential protection mechanisms when SSL is disabled, creating an attack surface that directly violates security best practices for protecting sensitive data in transit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to the Netezza system administration interface. This provides malicious actors with elevated privileges and complete control over the database appliance, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, and complete denial of service. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any network observer who can capture traffic during the authentication process. Attackers can leverage standard network analysis tools to capture the plaintext credentials, which then provide direct access to the system's administrative functions. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on Netezza appliances for critical data processing and storage, as unauthorized access could result in substantial data breaches and operational disruption.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address the security gap. The primary recommendation involves enabling SSL/TLS encryption for all administrative communications, which directly addresses the root cause of the vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit the attack surface and reduce the likelihood of network sniffing attacks. The implementation of network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify potential credential interception attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication to provide defense-in-depth against credential-based attacks. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following the principle of least privilege and ensuring that all administrative communications are properly encrypted, as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that SSL is properly configured and that all authentication traffic is encrypted, while also validating that the system does not fall back to insecure communication methods when SSL is disabled.