CVE-2013-4027 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 6.2 through 6.2.8, 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4027 affects IBM Maximo Asset Management versions 6.2 through 6.2.8, 7.1 through 7.1.1.12, and 7.5 before 7.5.0.5, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise asset management systems. This issue permits remote authenticated users to circumvent intended access restrictions, effectively allowing them to perform actions beyond their assigned permissions. The vulnerability operates at the application level where proper authorization checks fail to validate user privileges adequately, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized system access. The affected versions span multiple major releases of IBM Maximo, indicating a persistent flaw that required multiple patch cycles to address properly.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within the Maximo application framework, where authentication tokens or session data may not be properly verified against the intended access control policies. This flaw manifests when the system fails to enforce proper role-based access controls, allowing authenticated users to access functionalities, data, or system components that should be restricted based on their assigned user roles and permissions. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be exploited through various attack paths within the application's architecture, potentially including API calls, web interface interactions, or direct system calls that bypass normal authorization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and business disruption. Organizations utilizing affected Maximo versions face risks of unauthorized modification of asset records, financial data manipulation, or access to sensitive operational information that could affect business continuity and regulatory compliance. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability from outside the corporate network, potentially enabling lateral movement within the organization's infrastructure once initial access is established. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on Maximo for critical asset management functions, where unauthorized access could lead to significant financial losses, operational disruptions, or regulatory violations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability, which typically involve strengthening authorization checks and implementing additional validation mechanisms within the Maximo application framework. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive access control reviews to identify and remediate any existing unauthorized access patterns, while implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as it allows attackers to bypass security controls and maintain persistent access to critical enterprise systems. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar authorization flaws in other enterprise applications and ensure comprehensive protection against similar threats.