CVE-2013-5382 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 6.2 through 6.2.8, 7.1 before 7.1.1.12, and 7.5 before 7.5.0.5 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-5383.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2018
IBM Maximo Asset Management versions 6.2 through 6.2.8, 7.1 before 7.1.1.12, and 7.5 before 7.5.0.5 contain a privilege escalation vulnerability that affects remote authenticated users. This vulnerability represents a distinct issue from CVE-2013-5383 and enables attackers who have already established legitimate authentication credentials to elevate their privileges within the system. The unspecified vectors involved in this vulnerability suggest a complex underlying flaw in the application's access control mechanisms or authorization framework. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation as defined by CWE-264, which encompasses issues where attackers can gain higher privileges than initially granted. The vulnerability exists in the authentication and authorization subsystem of Maximo Asset Management, potentially allowing users to bypass intended security controls and access resources or perform actions beyond their normal operational scope. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypass since it enables attackers to assume elevated roles within the system, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, administrative functions, or the ability to modify critical business processes. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions face significant risk as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to move laterally within their asset management infrastructure, potentially compromising the integrity of their operational data and business processes. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with web-accessible Maximo installations. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate credentials. The vulnerability affects IBM Maximo Asset Management, a widely used enterprise asset management solution that typically handles sensitive operational data including maintenance schedules, inventory tracking, and financial asset information. Organizations should prioritize patching these vulnerable versions to prevent potential exploitation by malicious actors who may already have legitimate user accounts within the system. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and the necessity of regular security assessments to identify and remediate privilege escalation vectors in enterprise applications. This particular vulnerability underscores the critical need for organizations to maintain current security patches for their enterprise software, as even authenticated users with legitimate access can be exploited to gain additional privileges through such flaws.
The technical nature of this privilege escalation vulnerability suggests implementation issues within the Maximo application's security model. The vulnerability likely stems from insufficient validation of user permissions or improper enforcement of access control policies when processing authenticated requests. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could potentially access administrative functions, modify critical asset data, or manipulate business workflows that should be restricted to privileged users only. The unspecified vectors indicate that the flaw may involve multiple attack paths including but not limited to parameter manipulation, session handling issues, or flawed role-based access control implementations. This vulnerability type represents a significant concern for organizations that rely on Maximo for critical asset management operations, as it could lead to unauthorized modifications of maintenance schedules, inventory records, or financial data that directly impacts operational efficiency and compliance requirements. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation issue places it within the broader context of access control failures that can severely compromise the security posture of enterprise systems. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Maximo installations to identify potential exploitation paths and implement appropriate mitigations. The vulnerability demonstrates the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include network segmentation, monitoring for suspicious privilege usage, and regular security audits of enterprise applications. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that even authenticated access does not guarantee security, as legitimate users can be exploited to gain additional privileges through application-level flaws. The affected versions of Maximo Asset Management represent a critical security concern that requires immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining enterprise asset management systems.