CVE-2015-0532 in RSA Identity Management
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RSA Identity Management and Governance (IMG) 6.9 before P04 and 6.9.1 before P01 does not properly restrict password resets, which allows remote attackers to obtain access via crafted use of the reset process for an arbitrary valid account name, as demonstrated by a privileged account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-0532 affects EMC RSA Identity Management and Governance version 6.9 before patch level P04 and 6.9.1 before patch level P01. This weakness resides in the password reset functionality of the identity management system, which is a critical component for maintaining secure access controls within enterprise environments. The flaw represents a significant security gap that undermines the integrity of the authentication process and could potentially allow unauthorized access to privileged accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the password reset workflow. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that leverage the legitimate password reset process to target arbitrary valid account names. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-639 Access Control Bypass, specifically targeting the principle of least privilege and proper authentication mechanisms. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal account validation procedures and potentially gain access to accounts that they should not be able to access through legitimate means.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it specifically targets privileged accounts within the identity management system. This creates a severe risk for organizations relying on RSA IMG for user access management, as compromise of privileged accounts can lead to widespread system infiltration and potential data breaches. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only knowledge of valid account names, which are often easily obtainable through social engineering, reconnaissance, or previous successful attacks. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where the initial compromise may occur through social engineering to gather valid account information.
Organizations utilizing affected RSA IMG versions should immediately implement the available patches from EMC to address this vulnerability. The remediation process involves applying the specific patch levels mentioned in the CVE description, P04 for version 6.9 and P01 for version 6.9.1. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive reviews of their identity management processes and implement additional monitoring for unusual password reset activities. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure, while security information and event management systems should be configured to detect anomalous password reset patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access controls within identity management systems, as these components serve as the foundation for enterprise security infrastructure and are often primary targets for attackers seeking persistent access to organizational resources.