CVE-2014-6134 in Rational ClearCase
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational ClearCase 8.0.0 before 8.0.0.14 and 8.0.1 before 8.0.1.7, when Installation Manager before 1.8.2 is used, retains cleartext server passwords in process memory throughout the installation procedure, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging access to the installation account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6134 affects IBM Rational ClearCase versions 8.0.0 through 8.0.0.13 and 8.0.1 through 8.0.1.6 when installed using Installation Manager versions prior to 1.8.2. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the software installation process that exposes sensitive authentication credentials in plain text format within system memory. The vulnerability occurs during the installation procedure when the system stores server passwords in cleartext within the process memory space, creating an exploitable condition that persists throughout the entire installation lifecycle. This flaw directly violates security best practices by failing to implement proper credential sanitization and memory management during sensitive operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication credentials within the Installation Manager component of IBM Rational ClearCase. When users provide server passwords during the installation process, the system fails to securely erase these credentials from memory after processing, leaving them accessible to any process running with the same privileges as the installation account. This memory retention behavior creates a persistent exposure window where local attackers with access to the installation account can leverage memory inspection techniques to extract the cleartext passwords. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level during installation, when elevated privileges are typically required and when sensitive information is most critical to protect.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local privilege escalation and credential theft attacks that can compromise the integrity of the entire Rational ClearCase environment. Attackers with access to the installation account can exploit this weakness to obtain authentication credentials for multiple server components, potentially gaining unauthorized access to version control repositories, configuration management systems, and related infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Rational ClearCase for software development lifecycle management, as compromised installation credentials could lead to unauthorized modifications of source code, version control breaches, and potential data exfiltration from development environments. This weakness also impacts compliance with security frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which emphasizes the importance of protecting sensitive information throughout its lifecycle.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a classic example of insecure credential handling that violates fundamental security principles. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as credential access through memory scraping and privilege escalation via local account access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to IBM Rational ClearCase 8.0.0.14 or later versions, ensuring Installation Manager is updated to version 1.8.2 or higher, and implementing strict access controls for installation accounts. Additionally, system administrators should monitor process memory for sensitive information exposure, implement regular security assessments, and consider using automated tools to detect credential exposure in memory during installation procedures. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure credential management and proper memory sanitization practices in enterprise software installation processes, particularly when dealing with sensitive authentication data in privileged contexts.