CVE-2014-0890 in Sametime Connect Client
Summary
by MITRE
The Connect client in IBM Sametime 8.5.1, 8.5.1.1, 8.5.1.2, 8.5.2, 8.5.2.1, 9.0, and 9.0.0.1, when a certain com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.telephony.*.level setting is used, logs cleartext passwords during Audio/Video chat sessions, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading a log file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0890 affects IBM Sametime Connect client versions 8.5.1 through 9.0.0.1, representing a significant security flaw in enterprise communication software. This issue specifically manifests when certain telephony configuration settings are enabled, creating a persistent security risk through cleartext password logging during audio/video chat sessions. The vulnerability resides in the client-side logging mechanism that fails to properly sanitize authentication credentials, exposing sensitive information to local attackers who can access the log files directly.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication tokens within the Sametime client's telephony subsystem. When the com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.telephony.*.level configuration parameter is set to specific values, the client application writes authentication credentials in plain text format to log files without adequate encryption or obfuscation. This design flaw creates a persistent exposure point where local users with file system access can directly read these log files and extract cleartext passwords, effectively bypassing normal authentication security measures. The vulnerability operates at the application level and demonstrates poor security practices in credential handling and logging mechanisms, aligning with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials).
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to communication systems that may be used for further exploitation. Local users who can read the log files gain immediate access to authentication credentials that could be used to impersonate legitimate users within the Sametime environment. This access could potentially lead to unauthorized communication, data interception, or privilege escalation within the organization's collaboration infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Sametime for business-critical communications, where the exposure of authentication credentials could compromise entire communication channels and potentially enable broader network infiltration attempts.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the problematic telephony settings when not required, implementing file system access controls to restrict log file access, and conducting comprehensive security reviews of all Sametime client configurations. System administrators should also establish regular log file monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts and implement proper log rotation and secure deletion practices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper credential handling, as outlined in the OWASP Top 10 security principles and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing). Patch management should be prioritized to ensure all affected versions receive security updates from IBM, while organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit local access privileges and reduce the attack surface for such credential exposure scenarios.