CVE-2014-6098 in Security Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Identity Manager 6.x before 6.0.0.3 IF14 allows remote attackers to discover cleartext passwords via a crafted request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6098 affects IBM Security Identity Manager version 6.x prior to 6.0.0.3 IF14, representing a critical security flaw that exposes cleartext passwords to remote attackers through specially crafted requests. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure, where sensitive authentication data is inadvertently revealed during system operations. The flaw exists within the authentication and session management mechanisms of the identity management platform, specifically in how the system processes and responds to malformed or crafted requests that trigger password exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within the IBM Security Identity Manager's request handling components. When a remote attacker submits a crafted request to the vulnerable system, the application fails to properly validate the request parameters, leading to the unintentional disclosure of cleartext passwords stored in memory or transmitted through the system. This behavior creates a direct pathway for attackers to extract authentication credentials without requiring legitimate access privileges or advanced exploitation techniques. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited over network connections, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where identity management systems serve as critical infrastructure components.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6098 extends beyond simple credential theft, as compromised passwords can lead to unauthorized access to multiple systems and services that rely on the compromised identity management platform. Attackers can leverage the exposed credentials to escalate privileges, move laterally within networks, and potentially gain access to sensitive data repositories, privileged accounts, and critical business applications. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the CWE-200 category for "Information Exposure" and aligns with ATT&CK techniques for credential access and privilege escalation. Organizations utilizing IBM Security Identity Manager in production environments face significant risk of unauthorized system access and potential data breaches when this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6098 primarily involve applying the official IBM Security Identity Manager patch release 6.0.0.3 IF14, which addresses the input validation and request handling flaws that enable password exposure. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the identity management system to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious request patterns, implementing intrusion detection systems, and conducting regular security assessments of identity management infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output sanitization as outlined in CWE-20 and reinforces the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication and privileged access management solutions to reduce the impact of credential compromise in case of similar vulnerabilities.