CVE-2012-6299 in IdentityMinder
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in CA IdentityMinder r12.0 through CR16, r12.5 before SP15, and r12.6 GA allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6299 represents a significant security weakness within CA IdentityMinder software across multiple version ranges including r12.0 through CR16, r12.5 before SP15, and r12.6 GA. This unspecified flaw creates a pathway for remote attackers to circumvent the intended access controls that protect sensitive identity management systems. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism enabling the bypass remains undisclosed in the initial description, making it particularly concerning for security professionals who must defend against unknown attack vectors. The affected software operates within the identity and access management domain, where proper access controls are fundamental to maintaining security boundaries and protecting enterprise resources from unauthorized access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability suggests a failure in the authentication or authorization mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized users from accessing protected resources within the CA IdentityMinder environment. This type of access bypass typically occurs when the system's security controls are improperly implemented or when there are logical flaws in the access control enforcement logic. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vector indicates that attackers may exploit various potential weaknesses including but not limited to improper input validation, weak session management, or flawed privilege escalation mechanisms. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local system credentials to leverage the flaw, significantly expanding the potential attack surface and impact scope.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, privilege escalation, and unauthorized modification of identity management configurations. Organizations relying on CA IdentityMinder for critical identity and access management functions face substantial risk if this vulnerability remains unaddressed. The vulnerability could enable attackers to gain access to user credentials, identity records, and privileged administrative functions that control access to enterprise systems and applications. This risk is particularly severe in environments where CA IdentityMinder serves as a central identity provider or directory service, as successful exploitation could compromise the entire identity infrastructure and potentially enable lateral movement throughout the network. The vulnerability represents a direct threat to the principle of least privilege and could undermine the foundation of enterprise security policies.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching and updating of affected CA IdentityMinder installations to the latest available security releases. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the affected systems to untrusted networks and users. Additional defensive measures include enhanced monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, implementation of intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments of identity management configurations. The vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-284 for improper access control and CWE-310 for cryptographic weaknesses, though the unspecified nature prevents exact classification. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would likely map to techniques within the privilege escalation and credential access domains of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting identity and access management systems as part of broader enterprise compromise strategies. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential access control weaknesses within their identity infrastructure that could be exploited in similar fashion.