CVE-2014-0905 in InfoSphere BigInsights
Summary
by MITRE
IBM InfoSphere BigInsights 2.0 through 2.1.2 does not set the secure flag for the LTPA cookie in an https session, which makes it easier for remote attackers to capture this cookie by intercepting its transmission within an http session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0905 affects IBM InfoSphere BigInsights versions 2.0 through 2.1.2, representing a critical security flaw in the web application's session management implementation. This issue stems from the improper configuration of the LTPA (Lightweight Third-Party Authentication) cookie, which is a critical component for maintaining user authentication state within the BigInsights web interface. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly set the secure flag on the LTPA cookie during HTTPS sessions, creating a significant exposure that undermines the intended security protections of encrypted communication channels.
The technical flaw resides in the cookie attribute configuration where the secure flag, which instructs web browsers to only transmit the cookie over secure HTTPS connections, is omitted or incorrectly implemented. This misconfiguration allows the LTPA cookie to be transmitted over both HTTP and HTTPS connections, creating a man-in-the-middle attack vector that enables remote adversaries to intercept authentication tokens during network transmission. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-614, which specifically addresses the insufficient protection of sensitive data in cookies, and represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture that violates standard security practices for session management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with the means to capture valid authentication tokens without requiring additional exploitation techniques. When users access the BigInsights web interface over HTTPS, the LTPA cookie is transmitted without the secure flag, making it susceptible to interception during network traffic analysis or when the application is accessed through unencrypted HTTP connections. This weakness allows attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and administrative functions, and perform operations within the BigInsights environment that should be restricted to authorized personnel. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where BigInsights is used for critical data processing and analytics workloads.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple cookie interception to encompass broader session hijacking capabilities that can lead to complete system compromise. According to ATT&CK framework techniques, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when attackers leverage the intercepted credentials for further reconnaissance, and T1562.001 (Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools) when attackers use compromised sessions to manipulate system configurations. Organizations using affected versions of IBM InfoSphere BigInsights face increased risk of unauthorized access to their big data analytics platforms, potentially exposing sensitive business intelligence, customer data, and proprietary information stored within these systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected IBM InfoSphere BigInsights versions to address the cookie configuration issue. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect and alert on suspicious cookie transmission patterns, enforce mandatory HTTPS usage for all web interfaces, and conduct regular security assessments of authentication mechanisms. The secure flag should be enforced for all session cookies, and organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) headers and secure cookie attributes to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other applications. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to ensure that all components within the BigInsights ecosystem maintain proper security configurations and that the secure flag is consistently applied to all sensitive cookies.