CVE-2014-6110 in Security Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Identity Manager 6.x before 6.0.0.3 IF14 does not properly perform logout actions, which allows remote attackers to access sessions by leveraging an unattended workstation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6110 affects IBM Security Identity Manager version 6.x prior to 6.0.0.3 IF14, representing a critical session management flaw that undermines the security posture of identity and access management systems. This issue stems from inadequate logout functionality that fails to properly terminate user sessions when the application is closed or when users navigate away from the interface. The flaw specifically manifests when users leave their workstations unattended, creating a window of opportunity for unauthorized access to active sessions. The vulnerability exposes the underlying security architecture to session hijacking attacks where malicious actors can exploit the improper session cleanup mechanisms to gain access to sensitive identity management resources and potentially escalate privileges within the system.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates at the session management layer of the IBM Security Identity Manager application, where proper session termination protocols should be enforced upon logout or application closure. The flaw allows attackers to maintain access to active sessions even after legitimate users have closed their browsers or walked away from their workstations. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of session isolation and proper resource cleanup, creating persistent access vectors that persist beyond the intended session duration. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication and authorization components of the identity management system, where session tokens or credentials remain valid even when the user interface has been closed, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate or access sensitive identity data through these lingering sessions.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6110 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to perform privileged actions within the identity management system. This includes but is not limited to viewing, modifying, or deleting user accounts, access rights, and identity attributes that are typically protected within secure identity management environments. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor that persists even after normal user logout procedures, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where identity management systems control access to critical business applications and data repositories. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive identity information, potential privilege escalation, and compromised integrity of their identity management infrastructure, which can cascade into broader security incidents affecting the entire enterprise access control ecosystem.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for IBM Security Identity Manager 6.0.0.3 IF14, which addresses the improper session termination logic. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict workstation security policies including automatic screen locking after periods of inactivity, implement proper session timeout configurations, and conduct regular security assessments of identity management systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session expiration, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1563.002 for "Access Token Manipulation" where attackers can exploit session persistence mechanisms to maintain unauthorized access. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based session monitoring and alerting systems to detect anomalous session behavior that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability, while ensuring that all identity management systems undergo regular security testing to identify similar session management flaws that could compromise enterprise security postures.