CVE-2013-3971 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.1 through 7.1.1.12 and 7.5 before 7.5.0.5 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-3049.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2018
IBM Maximo Asset Management version 7.1 through 7.1.1.12 and 7.5 before 7.5.0.5 contains a security vulnerability that permits remote authenticated users to circumvent intended access controls through unspecified methods. This vulnerability represents a distinct issue from CVE-2013-3049, indicating separate attack vectors and exploitation mechanisms within the Maximo platform. The flaw resides in the access control implementation mechanisms that govern user permissions and authorization checks within the asset management system. Attackers who have already established legitimate authentication credentials can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to resources, data, or functionalities beyond their assigned permissions. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient authorization checks as defined by CWE-285, where the system fails to properly validate user permissions before granting access to protected resources. The impact extends beyond simple data access, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate asset records, modify maintenance schedules, or access sensitive operational information that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only. Organizations utilizing these specific versions of IBM Maximo Asset Management face significant risks as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring additional authentication factors or privileged access. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the application's security model, particularly concerning the principle of least privilege enforcement. Attackers could potentially escalate their privileges through this flaw to access administrative functions or sensitive data repositories within the Maximo environment. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not need physical access to the network or system to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in distributed or cloud-based deployments. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and valid accounts as a means of gaining access to systems and resources. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the application's authorization framework where proper access control checks are not consistently enforced across all application components. Organizations should immediately assess their deployment of these vulnerable versions and implement appropriate mitigations. The vulnerability affects both the 7.1 and 7.5 release lines, indicating it may be present in core authorization modules that have persisted across multiple versions of the software. This widespread impact suggests the flaw is likely in fundamental access control logic rather than in specific features or modules. The vulnerability's classification as a bypass mechanism means that even properly authenticated users could potentially access resources they should not be permitted to reach. Security teams should conduct thorough access control reviews and implement additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The issue represents a significant concern for enterprise asset management systems where proper access controls are critical for maintaining operational integrity and preventing data breaches. Organizations should prioritize patching these vulnerable versions to prevent potential exploitation by malicious actors. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and proper version management to ensure that known security flaws are addressed promptly. Proper access control implementation is essential in asset management systems where unauthorized access could lead to operational disruptions or compromise sensitive business data. The flaw's existence in multiple release lines suggests that IBM may have introduced this authorization weakness in a core component that was subsequently inherited by various product versions. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential consequences of running vulnerable software versions in enterprise environments. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation and enhanced monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature as an access bypass issue indicates that it could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially leading to data manipulation or system compromise. Security professionals should evaluate their existing access control policies and ensure that proper authorization checks are in place across all application components. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability makes it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is high, such as web-facing applications or cloud deployments. This flaw emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing and validation of access control mechanisms in enterprise software platforms. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical relationship between proper authentication and authorization in enterprise security architectures, where failure in either component can lead to significant security breaches. Proper patch management and version control practices are essential for maintaining the security posture of enterprise asset management systems. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate access control violations to potentially compromise the overall integrity and availability of the asset management platform. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls and regular access reviews to minimize the potential damage from such authorization bypass vulnerabilities. The flaw's presence in both major release lines suggests that IBM may have introduced a fundamental architectural weakness that required multiple version updates to address properly. This vulnerability serves as a case study in the importance of thorough security testing and validation before deploying enterprise software solutions to production environments. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities can result in significant business impact including operational disruption, regulatory compliance issues, and potential financial losses. Security teams should prioritize the remediation of this vulnerability through official IBM patches and ensure that all affected systems are properly updated. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current security awareness and understanding of known weaknesses in enterprise software platforms. Proper security configuration and ongoing monitoring are essential components of defending against such access control bypass vulnerabilities in enterprise asset management systems.