CVE-2013-3977 in Sametime Meeting Server
Summary
by MITRE
The Meeting Server in IBM Sametime 8.x through 8.5.2.1 and 9.x through 9.0.0.1 allows remote attackers to determine which meeting rooms are owned by a user by leveraging knowledge of valid user names.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3977 affects IBM Sametime Meeting Server versions 8.x through 8.5.2.1 and 9.x through 9.0.0.1, representing a significant information disclosure flaw that undermines the confidentiality of meeting room ownership data. This vulnerability operates through a design weakness in the server's access control mechanisms, where the system inadvertently reveals metadata about meeting room ownership to authenticated users who can leverage knowledge of valid usernames. The flaw falls under the category of information disclosure as classified by CWE-200, specifically exposing sensitive data about resource ownership through improper error handling or response design.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the Meeting Server's response behavior when processing requests related to meeting room access. When a remote attacker can authenticate using valid user credentials and subsequently query the system for meeting room information, the server responds with different error messages or access patterns depending on whether the requested meeting room belongs to the authenticated user. This differential response allows an attacker to perform a form of reconnaissance by systematically testing usernames and observing the server's responses to determine which meeting rooms are owned by specific users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user credentials might be compromised through other means.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the Sametime ecosystem. An attacker who can determine meeting room ownership can potentially identify high-value targets for social engineering attacks, plan coordinated exploitation attempts against specific users, or map out organizational meeting structures to better understand business operations. This information can be particularly valuable for attackers seeking to conduct targeted attacks against specific individuals or departments, as they can identify users who own meeting rooms that might contain sensitive discussions or critical business meetings. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1087.001 for account discovery, as it enables attackers to enumerate user accounts and their associated resources.
Organizations utilizing IBM Sametime Meeting Server versions affected by CVE-2013-3977 face significant risk of unauthorized information gathering and potential escalation attacks. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in environments where the system is not properly segmented or where additional authentication mechanisms are not implemented. The flaw represents a failure in proper access control validation, where the system should not reveal ownership information through its responses regardless of the user's access level. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader reconnaissance efforts, particularly when evaluating the security posture of collaboration platforms. Mitigation strategies include implementing proper input validation, ensuring consistent error responses regardless of access level, and applying the latest security patches provided by IBM to address this specific information disclosure vulnerability. The issue demonstrates the importance of proper error handling design and the principle of least privilege in preventing information leakage through application responses.