CVE-2014-8923 in Tivoli Identity Manager Adapter
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) IBM Tivoli Identity Manager Active Directory adapter before 5.1.24 and (2) IBM Security Identity Manager Active Directory adapter before 6.0.14 for IBM Security Identity Manager on Windows, when certain log and trace levels are configured, store the cleartext administrator password in a log file, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading a file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-8923 represents a critical security flaw in IBM Tivoli Identity Manager and IBM Security Identity Manager Active Directory adapters. This issue affects specific versions of the software running on Windows platforms where certain logging and tracing configurations are enabled. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive authentication credentials within the system's logging infrastructure, creating an avenue for unauthorized information disclosure that could significantly compromise identity management systems.
The technical flaw manifests when the Active Directory adapter components store administrator passwords in cleartext format within log files rather than implementing proper credential sanitization or encryption mechanisms. This occurs specifically when certain log levels and trace configurations are enabled during system operation, indicating that the vulnerability is not inherent to the core software but rather emerges from particular configuration choices. The flaw directly violates fundamental security principles by exposing privileged credentials through persistent storage mechanisms that should never contain sensitive information in an unencrypted format. According to CWE-312, this represents a clear case of sensitive data exposure where cleartext credentials are stored in log files, making them accessible to any local user with file system permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables local users to gain unauthorized access to privileged accounts within the identity management infrastructure. This creates a potential attack vector that could lead to privilege escalation, unauthorized system modifications, and broader compromise of the security domain. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects identity management systems that are often critical to enterprise security operations, potentially allowing attackers to move laterally within networks or escalate privileges to gain access to additional systems and data. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, specifically leveraging local access to obtain sensitive information that could be used for further exploitation.
The security implications of this vulnerability are exacerbated by the fact that it requires minimal privileges to exploit, as local users already possess the necessary file system access to read the log files containing the cleartext credentials. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where local user access is not strictly controlled or where users have elevated privileges through legitimate means. Organizations using affected versions of IBM Security Identity Manager should immediately implement configuration changes to disable the problematic logging levels or ensure that sensitive information is properly sanitized from log outputs. The recommended mitigations include updating to the patched versions mentioned in the CVE (5.1.24 and 6.0.14) and implementing proper log management practices that prevent sensitive information from being stored in persistent log files. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough audits of their logging configurations to identify any other potential instances where sensitive information might be inadvertently exposed through system logging mechanisms.