CVE-2013-0483 in IMS Enterprise Suite
Summary
by MITRE
The login component in SOAP Gateway in IBM IMS Enterprise Suite 1.1, 2.1, and 2.2 uses cleartext credentials, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0483 affects the SOAP Gateway component within IBM IMS Enterprise Suite versions 1.1, 2.1, and 2.2. This security flaw resides in the login authentication mechanism where user credentials are transmitted in cleartext format over network connections. The issue represents a critical weakness in the security architecture of the enterprise suite, as it directly exposes sensitive authentication information to potential attackers who can intercept network traffic through passive sniffing techniques. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication process within the SOAP Gateway, which serves as a critical interface for enterprise communication and service integration.
The technical flaw stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials during the login process, where passwords and usernames are sent without encryption or obfuscation. This cleartext transmission violates fundamental security principles and creates an attack surface that aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext transmission. Network sniffing tools can easily capture these unencrypted credentials, allowing malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to enterprise systems. The vulnerability exists because the system fails to implement proper transport layer security measures such as TLS/SSL encryption for authentication traffic, creating a direct pathway for credential theft that can lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to enterprise resources, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Attackers can leverage captured credentials to access sensitive enterprise data, perform unauthorized transactions, and potentially escalate privileges within the IMS environment. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on SOAP-based services for enterprise integration, as the attack surface includes all network communications passing through the vulnerable SOAP Gateway. The consequences align with ATT&CK technique T1075, which covers the use of legitimate credentials for unauthorized access, and T1566, which addresses credential harvesting through network sniffing attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the mandatory deployment of TLS encryption for all SOAP Gateway communications, proper network segmentation to isolate vulnerable components, and regular credential rotation policies. The implementation of strong authentication protocols such as OAuth or SAML should be considered as long-term solutions. Additionally, network monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect and alert on unusual authentication patterns that might indicate credential interception attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive network audits to identify and remediate similar cleartext transmission issues across the enterprise infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to security standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, which emphasize the protection of sensitive information during transmission and the implementation of secure communication protocols. Organizations must prioritize the immediate patching of affected systems and the enforcement of encrypted communication channels to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.