CVE-2013-5461 in Endpoint Manager for Remote Control
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Endpoint Manager for Remote Control 9.0.0 and 9.0.1 and Tivoli Remote Control 5.1.2 store multiple hashes of partial passwords, which make it easier for remote attackers to decrypt passwords by leveraging access to the hashes. IBM X-Force ID: 88309.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5461 affects IBM Endpoint Manager for Remote Control versions 9.0.0 and 9.0.1, as well as Tivoli Remote Control version 5.1.2, representing a significant security weakness in credential storage mechanisms. This flaw stems from the improper handling of password hashes within the remote control software, where multiple partial password hashes are stored in a manner that significantly reduces the cryptographic strength of the authentication system. The vulnerability creates a pathway for remote attackers to exploit these stored hashes to reconstruct full passwords, effectively undermining the security posture of systems relying on these remote control solutions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the storage of multiple hash values derived from partial password components rather than employing proper password hashing techniques with salted cryptographic functions. This design flaw allows attackers with access to the hash repository to perform targeted attacks that exploit the mathematical relationships between partial hashes, making password recovery significantly more feasible than would be possible with properly implemented cryptographic hashing. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-256, which addresses the storage of cleartext passwords or weakly hashed passwords, and represents a failure in proper credential management practices. The attack vector is classified as remote, meaning that unauthorized actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the target system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5461 extends beyond simple credential compromise, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized system access, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within networked environments. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can gain persistent access to remote control systems, potentially enabling them to establish backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy malicious payloads across multiple endpoints. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would align with techniques such as credential access and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the T1078 and T1550 sub-techniques that involve legitimate credentials and valid accounts. Organizations utilizing these IBM remote control solutions face increased risk of unauthorized access and potential security breaches, particularly in environments where these systems control critical infrastructure or sensitive data repositories.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of software updates from IBM addressing the specific hash storage mechanisms, alongside comprehensive credential management reviews. Organizations should implement additional security controls such as network segmentation, multi-factor authentication, and regular monitoring of access logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include thorough inventory management to identify all affected systems, followed by coordinated patch deployment across all instances of the vulnerable software versions. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for patterns consistent with credential harvesting attacks, as well as establishing incident response procedures that address potential compromise scenarios. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their remote management infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against credential-based attacks that exploit weak cryptographic implementations.