CVE-2013-4024 in Optim Performance Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Data Studio Web Console 3.x before 3.2, Optim Performance Manager 5.x before 5.2, InfoSphere Optim Configuration Manager 2.x before 2.2, and DB2 Recovery Expert 2.x support HTTP access to the Web Console, which allows remote attackers to read session cookies by sniffing the network.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2019
This vulnerability resides in IBM's suite of database management and performance monitoring tools, specifically affecting versions prior to the mentioned security patches. The core issue involves the web console components that lack proper encryption for session management data, creating a critical exposure in network communications. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by capturing network traffic and extracting session cookies that are transmitted in plaintext over HTTP connections. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles of data confidentiality and authentication integrity, as session tokens contain sensitive information that could be used to impersonate legitimate users.
The technical flaw stems from the implementation of HTTP protocols without mandatory transport layer security measures such as TLS encryption. When users authenticate to these web consoles, their session identifiers are transmitted unencrypted across the network, making them susceptible to passive network sniffing techniques. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-319 as it involves the exposure of sensitive information through network transmission, specifically session tokens that should be protected using secure communication channels. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication as it only requires network monitoring capabilities to capture the plaintext session cookies, which then can be used to hijack user sessions and gain unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it compromises the integrity of the entire database management ecosystem. Attackers who successfully capture session cookies can access sensitive database configurations, performance metrics, and administrative controls that are typically restricted to authorized personnel only. This exposure creates opportunities for data manipulation, unauthorized database modifications, and potential escalation to more severe attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects multiple IBM products including Data Studio Web Console, Optim Performance Manager, InfoSphere Optim Configuration Manager, and DB2 Recovery Expert, creating widespread exposure across enterprise database management environments. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers can leverage captured session data to establish persistent access and potentially move laterally within the network.
Organizations should immediately implement mandatory TLS encryption for all web console communications and ensure that session cookies are transmitted only over secure channels. The recommended mitigation strategies include configuring the web consoles to require HTTPS connections, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network traffic patterns. Additionally, administrators should enforce strong session management policies including short session timeouts, secure cookie attributes, and regular security audits of web application configurations. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure communication protocols in enterprise database management systems and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of web interfaces in database management tools. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on unencrypted traffic patterns, as well as establish incident response procedures for handling potential session hijacking events.