CVE-2013-0531 in Security AppScan
Summary
by MITRE
The SSL implementation in IBM Security AppScan Enterprise before 8.7.0.1 enables cipher suites with weak encryption algorithms, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0531 affects IBM Security AppScan Enterprise versions prior to 8.7.0.1, specifically targeting the secure socket layer implementation that governs cryptographic communications within the application. This weakness resides in the SSL/TLS protocol handling mechanism where the system fails to properly enforce strong encryption standards during secure connections. The flaw allows the system to negotiate and utilize cipher suites that employ weak encryption algorithms, creating a significant security gap that undermines the confidentiality assurances typically provided by secure communications protocols.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate cryptographic policy enforcement within the SSL implementation. When establishing secure connections, the system does not properly validate or restrict the available cipher suites to only those that meet contemporary security standards. This results in the acceptance and utilization of cipher suites that employ encryption algorithms with known weaknesses, such as those with insufficient key lengths or flawed cryptographic primitives. The vulnerability specifically enables the use of weak cipher suites that can be readily broken through modern cryptographic attacks, making the communication channels susceptible to eavesdropping and data interception.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations using IBM Security AppScan Enterprise in environments where sensitive data is transmitted or processed. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by performing network sniffing operations to capture encrypted traffic and subsequently attempt to decrypt the intercepted communications using the weak encryption algorithms. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, compromise of authentication mechanisms, and potential lateral movement within affected networks. The vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental security assurances that organizations rely upon when implementing secure scanning solutions.
The weakness aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that require the implementation of strong encryption standards. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, as attackers can leverage the weak SSL implementation to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations should immediately implement the available patches from IBM Security AppScan Enterprise 8.7.0.1 onwards, which address the cipher suite restrictions and enforce stronger encryption standards. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while security policies should be updated to ensure that all cryptographic implementations meet current industry standards and regulatory requirements.