CVE-2014-0849 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.x before 7.5.0.3 IFIX027 and SmartCloud Control Desk 7.x before 7.5.0.3 and 7.5.1.x before 7.5.1.2 allow remote authenticated users to gain privileges by leveraging membership in two security groups.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2018
This vulnerability exists in IBM Maximo Asset Management and SmartCloud Control Desk software versions prior to specific fix levels, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables authenticated attackers to elevate their access rights. The vulnerability stems from improper authorization checks within the security group membership validation process, allowing malicious users to exploit their position within two security groups to gain unauthorized administrative privileges. The flaw specifically affects versions 7.x before 7.5.0.3 IFIX027 and SmartCloud Control Desk 7.x before 7.5.0.3 and 7.5.1.x before 7.5.1.2, creating a window of exposure for organizations using these software platforms. According to CWE-284, this represents an improper access control vulnerability where the system fails to properly enforce authorization mechanisms, allowing users to perform actions beyond their intended permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of security group membership validation logic where the system does not adequately verify that a user's combined group memberships do not grant them excessive privileges. When an authenticated user belongs to two specific security groups, the system incorrectly processes their access permissions, creating a privilege escalation path that bypasses normal security controls. This flaw operates at the application level authorization layer, where the security model fails to properly enforce the principle of least privilege. The vulnerability can be leveraged remotely by authenticated users who understand the specific group membership requirements needed to trigger the privilege escalation condition, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple user roles and security groups are implemented.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to gain elevated privileges without requiring additional authentication factors or exploiting other system weaknesses. Once exploited, the compromised user can access sensitive data, modify system configurations, manipulate asset management records, and potentially disrupt business operations. Organizations using these IBM Maximo and SmartCloud Control Desk versions face risks of data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and potential compliance violations. The vulnerability affects critical business processes managed through these platforms, including asset tracking, maintenance scheduling, and resource allocation, making it attractive to attackers seeking to compromise enterprise operations. This weakness directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the managed systems, potentially leading to substantial financial and operational consequences.
Organizations should immediately apply the relevant security patches and IFIX updates provided by IBM to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.5.0.3 IFIX027 and SmartCloud Control Desk 7.5.0.3 and 7.5.1.2 versions or later. System administrators should conduct thorough security assessments to identify users who may have been compromised through this vulnerability, implementing enhanced monitoring and access control measures. Additionally, organizations should review their security group configurations and user role assignments to minimize the risk of users being assigned to multiple security groups that could potentially trigger similar privilege escalation conditions. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1484 for domain controller privilege escalation, emphasizing the importance of proper access control enforcement and regular security updates to maintain system integrity and protect against unauthorized privilege elevation attempts.