CVE-2014-4619 in RSA Identity Management
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RSA Identity Management and Governance (IMG) 6.5.x before 6.5.1 P11, 6.5.2 before P02HF01, and 6.8.x before 6.8.1 P07, when Novell Identity Manager (aka NovellIM) is used, allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via an arbitrary valid username.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The CVE-2014-4619 vulnerability affects EMC RSA Identity Management and Governance (IMG) versions 6.5.x before 6.5.1 P11, 6.5.2 before P02HF01, and 6.8.x before 6.8.1 P07 when integrated with Novell Identity Manager. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of the identity governance platform. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of authentication requests, allowing attackers to exploit a weakness in the system's credential handling mechanisms. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes authentication attempts for valid usernames without adequately verifying the associated credentials, creating a pathway for unauthorized access.
This vulnerability operates at the authentication layer of the identity management system, where the system should enforce strict credential verification before granting access. The technical implementation flaw allows an attacker to submit any valid username from the system's user directory and bypass the normal authentication process. This occurs because the system does not properly validate the relationship between the provided username and the corresponding password or authentication token. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require knowledge of specific passwords, only the existence of valid usernames within the system's directory. This makes it exploitable through user enumeration techniques and can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to privileged accounts within the identity governance environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network. Attackers can exploit this flaw to access sensitive identity management functions, modify user accounts, and potentially gain access to systems that rely on the IMG platform for authentication. The vulnerability affects organizations that depend on integrated identity management solutions, where the compromise of one authentication system can cascade into broader security breaches. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access. Organizations using this vulnerable software may face significant compliance violations and regulatory penalties due to the exposure of privileged identity information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4619 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions. Organizations must ensure that all instances of EMC RSA IMG 6.5.x, 6.5.2, and 6.8.x are updated with the appropriate security patches, specifically targeting the mentioned patch levels. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the vulnerable systems to untrusted networks. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive user account audits to identify any unauthorized access that may have occurred through this vulnerability. The implementation of multi-factor authentication mechanisms and enhanced monitoring of authentication events can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review and validate their identity governance policies to ensure that access controls remain effective even when individual authentication mechanisms are compromised. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the broader identity management infrastructure.