CVE-2015-0160 in Security SiteProtector System
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security SiteProtector System 3.0 before 3.0.0.7, 3.1 before 3.1.0.4, and 3.1.1 before 3.1.1.2 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands with SYSTEM privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0160 represents a critical command execution flaw within IBM Security SiteProtector System versions prior to specific patch releases. This vulnerability affects multiple version streams including 3.0.x before 3.0.0.7, 3.1.x before 3.1.0.4, and 3.1.1.x before 3.1.1.2, indicating a widespread issue across the product lineage. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands with SYSTEM privileges, which constitutes a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that could compromise entire system infrastructures.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from unspecified vectors within the IBM Security SiteProtector System architecture that fail to properly validate or sanitize user inputs. This allows authenticated users who can establish connections to the system to craft malicious payloads that bypass normal security controls. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level where input validation mechanisms are insufficient to prevent dangerous command injection scenarios, particularly when the system processes user-supplied data without adequate sanitization or access controls. This type of flaw typically relates to improper input handling and privilege management within the application's processing pipeline.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0160 is exceptionally severe given that successful exploitation results in SYSTEM-level privileges. This means that authenticated attackers can execute commands with the highest possible system permissions, potentially allowing them to access sensitive data, modify system configurations, install malware, or establish persistence mechanisms. The remote nature of the attack vector eliminates the need for physical access or local system compromise, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments. Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Security SiteProtector System face significant risk of complete system compromise, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their networks.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories, representing command injection flaws that permit arbitrary code execution. The ATT&CK framework would classify this under privilege escalation and command and control tactics, as attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access and execute malicious commands. The vulnerability's classification as remote authenticated command execution places it in the category of network-based attacks that can be leveraged by threat actors without requiring local system access. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including patching to the latest versions, network segmentation, and monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns.
Mitigation efforts should prioritize immediate patch deployment to versions 3.0.0.7, 3.1.0.4, and 3.1.1.2 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary security fixes. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit the number of authenticated users with access to the affected system. Additional protective measures include implementing network monitoring for unusual command execution patterns, deploying intrusion detection systems, and conducting regular security assessments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and proper input validation in enterprise security systems, particularly those handling sensitive security data and network protection functions.