CVE-2014-6123 in Rational AppScan Source
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational AppScan Source 8.0 through 8.0.0.2 and 8.5 through 8.5.0.1 and Security AppScan Source 8.6 through 8.6.0.2, 8.7 through 8.7.0.1, 8.8, 9.0 through 9.0.0.1, and 9.0.1 allow local users to obtain sensitive credential information by reading installation logs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6123 affects multiple versions of IBM Rational AppScan Source and Security AppScan Source products, specifically ranging from version 8.0 through 8.0.0.2 and 8.5 through 8.5.0.1 up to versions 8.6 through 8.6.0.2, 8.7 through 8.7.0.1, 8.8, 9.0 through 9.0.0.1, and 9.0.1. This issue represents a critical security flaw that exposes sensitive credential information through improper handling of installation logs. The vulnerability stems from the insecure storage and logging practices within the application installation process, where authentication credentials and other sensitive data are written to log files without adequate protection mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests when the installation process of these security scanning tools creates log files that contain unencrypted sensitive information including user credentials, authentication tokens, and potentially other confidential data. This occurs because the installation routine does not implement proper sanitization or encryption of credential information before writing to log files, creating persistent exposure points on the system where unauthorized local users can access these sensitive materials. The vulnerability is classified as a local privilege escalation issue since it only requires local system access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share the same system or where least privilege principles are not strictly enforced.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as the exposure of authentication information can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems that were previously protected by the security scanning tools. When local users can read installation logs containing credentials, they can potentially access network resources, databases, or other systems that were protected by the security scanning infrastructure. This creates a significant risk for organizations that deploy these tools in enterprise environments, as the vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor mechanism for privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network. The affected versions span multiple major releases, indicating that this was a persistent flaw that required multiple patch cycles to address properly.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting file system access to installation log directories, implementing proper log sanitization procedures, and ensuring that credential information is never stored in plain text within log files. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which addresses "Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information," and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation category. System administrators should also consider implementing automated monitoring for unauthorized access to installation log files and ensure that all systems are updated to the latest patched versions of the AppScan products to eliminate this exposure vector.