CVE-2013-3018 in Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The AXIS webapp in deploy-tomcat/axis in IBM Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager (TADDM) 7.1.2 and 7.2.0 through 7.2.1.4 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive configuration information via a direct request, as demonstrated by happyaxis.jsp. IBM X-Force ID: 84354.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3018 affects IBM Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager version 7.1.2 and 7.2.0 through 7.2.1.4, specifically within the deploy-tomcat/axis web application component. This issue represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that enables remote attackers to access sensitive configuration data through direct web requests. The vulnerability manifests through the happyaxis.jsp endpoint, which serves as an entry point for unauthorized information retrieval from the affected system. The flaw resides in the improper access control mechanisms implemented within the AXIS web application, allowing unauthenticated users to bypass normal security restrictions and obtain privileged configuration details.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control enforcement within the web application framework. The AXIS webapp component in TADDM exposes sensitive configuration information through a publicly accessible endpoint without proper authentication mechanisms. When attackers access the happyaxis.jsp page directly, they can retrieve detailed system configuration data, including potentially sensitive information about the application's deployment environment, server settings, and internal system parameters. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category for Information Exposure and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 for Data from Information Repositories, as it involves unauthorized access to system configuration data through web application interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked configuration data could provide attackers with crucial insights for subsequent exploitation attempts. Attackers can leverage the exposed information to understand the system architecture, identify potential attack vectors, and plan more sophisticated attacks targeting specific components. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of TADDM, creating a widespread risk across organizations that deployed these particular releases. This information disclosure could enable attackers to craft more effective targeted attacks against the TADDM environment, potentially leading to privilege escalation, system compromise, or further reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness in the application's defense-in-depth strategy, as it allows attackers to gather intelligence without requiring prior authentication or credentials.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling or removing the vulnerable happyaxis.jsp endpoint, implementing proper access controls for all web application resources, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of their TADDM deployments. The recommended approach involves restricting access to the AXIS web application through network segmentation, implementing authentication requirements for all endpoints, and ensuring that sensitive configuration information is not exposed through publicly accessible web interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates to address the root cause of the vulnerability. This remediation effort should include monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and implementing proper logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure configuration management and proper access control implementation in enterprise application environments, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 frameworks for information security management.