CVE-2013-4040 in Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager (TADDM) 7.1.2.x before 7.2.1.5 and 7.2.x before 7.2.2.0 on Unix use weak permissions (755) for unspecified configuration and log files, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the files. IBM X-Force ID: 86176.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4040 affects IBM Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager versions 7.1.2.x prior to 7.2.1.5 and 7.2.x prior to 7.2.2.0 running on Unix systems. This issue represents a significant security weakness in the file permission configuration of the TADDM application, specifically involving configuration and log files that are improperly secured with weak permissions set to 755. The affected system components are critical for application dependency discovery and management within enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on comprehensive application dependency mapping and inventory management capabilities.
The technical flaw stems from the improper file permission settings where configuration and log files are assigned world-readable permissions (755) instead of restrictive permissions that would prevent unauthorized access. This misconfiguration allows local users to read sensitive information contained within these files, which typically include application configuration details, system settings, and potentially sensitive operational data. The weakness creates an information disclosure vulnerability that can be exploited by any local user with basic system access, as the 755 permission scheme grants read and execute privileges to all users while maintaining write permissions only for the owner. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and creates an attack surface that could be leveraged to gain insights into the application's operational environment and potentially identify additional vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the sensitive data exposed through these improperly secured files could provide attackers with valuable intelligence for planning more sophisticated attacks. Configuration files often contain database connection strings, authentication parameters, and system-specific settings that could be used to compromise additional system components or facilitate lateral movement within the network. Log files may contain operational details, error messages, and system behavior patterns that could aid in identifying application weaknesses or potential exploitation vectors. Organizations using TADDM for critical infrastructure management face increased risk of targeted attacks, as the information disclosure could enable adversaries to craft more effective attacks against the application or underlying systems. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where TADDM is used for comprehensive application dependency mapping, making it a valuable target for threat actors seeking to understand complex application landscapes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate permission adjustments to restrict access to sensitive configuration and log files. System administrators should implement restrictive file permissions that limit access to authorized users only, typically using permissions such as 600 or 640 for configuration files and 640 for log files, ensuring that only the application owner and authorized administrators can access these critical components. Regular security audits should be conducted to verify that file permissions remain properly configured and that no new files are created with weak permissions. Additionally, organizations should implement automated monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized changes to file permissions and maintain comprehensive logging of file access activities. The remediation process should also include updating to the patched versions of TADDM as released by IBM, specifically versions 7.2.1.5 and 7.2.2.0, which address this vulnerability through proper file permission handling. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resources and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1083: File and Directory Discovery, representing a fundamental security misconfiguration that violates basic information security principles and creates unnecessary exposure of sensitive operational data.