CVE-2013-3992 in InfoSphere BigInsights
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in IBM InfoSphere BigInsights 2.0 through 2.1 allows remote authenticated users to hijack the authentication of unspecified victims via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2022
The CVE-2013-3992 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within IBM InfoSphere BigInsights versions 2.0 through 2.1, exposing organizations to significant security risks through unauthorized authentication hijacking. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication mechanisms of the BigInsights platform, which is designed for big data analytics and processing. The flaw allows remote authenticated attackers to manipulate the system's security controls by exploiting the CSRF protection mechanisms, potentially enabling them to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users without their knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the web interface of BigInsights. Attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate authenticated users, exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and its users. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable attackers to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, or perform administrative operations that compromise the entire platform. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing and social engineering methods that leverage web application flaws.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3992 is substantial for organizations utilizing BigInsights platforms, particularly those handling sensitive business data or regulatory information. A successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or unauthorized modification of analytics workflows and data processing pipelines. The vulnerability affects the platform's integrity and availability, as attackers could potentially disrupt ongoing data processing operations or corrupt analytical results. Organizations using these versions face risks to their data governance frameworks, as the vulnerability undermines the trust model that BigInsights relies upon for secure multi-user environments. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised user accounts.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, enabling proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous authentication patterns and suspicious request behaviors. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the BigInsights ecosystem. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that patch implementations do not disrupt existing data processing workflows while maintaining the platform's operational integrity. Security teams should also review and update their incident response procedures to address potential CSRF-related breaches and establish monitoring protocols for detecting unauthorized administrative actions within the BigInsights environment.