CVE-2015-1951 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.1 through 7.1.1.13, 7.5.0 before 7.5.0.8 IFIX001, and 7.6.0 before 7.6.0.0 IFIX005 does not prevent caching of HTTPS responses, which allows physically proximate attackers to obtain sensitive local-cache information by leveraging an unattended workstation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-1951 affects IBM Maximo Asset Management versions ranging from 7.1 through 7.1.1.13, 7.5.0 before 7.5.0.8 IFIX001, and 7.6.0 before 7.6.0.0 IFIX005. This issue represents a critical security flaw in how the application handles HTTPS response caching mechanisms, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on this asset management platform. The vulnerability specifically targets the caching behavior of secure HTTPS communications, which should normally prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data through cache poisoning or cache disclosure attacks.
The technical flaw stems from the application's failure to properly implement secure caching controls for HTTPS responses. When users access the Maximo application through HTTPS connections, sensitive data such as user credentials, session tokens, and asset management information may be stored in local caches without proper security considerations. This behavior creates a scenario where an attacker with physical proximity to an unattended workstation can exploit the cached data to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to leverage the local cache as an information disclosure vector, bypassing normal security controls that should protect HTTPS sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Maximo Asset Management is deployed across multiple workstations and users. Attackers with physical access to unattended workstations can exploit this weakness to extract cached sensitive data, potentially including user authentication tokens, asset configuration details, and business-critical information. This threat vector is especially dangerous in environments where security policies may not adequately address physical security controls or where workstations are left unattended for extended periods. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of HTTPS communications, which should normally provide protection against eavesdropping and session hijacking attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling local caching of HTTPS responses within the Maximo application configuration, implementing strict cache control headers for all HTTPS communications, and establishing robust physical security policies for unattended workstations. The recommended approach involves applying the vendor-provided IFIX patches for the affected versions, configuring secure cache settings, and implementing additional monitoring to detect unauthorized cache access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper caching, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1557.001 for credential access through cache dumping. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as automatic screen lock mechanisms, mandatory session timeouts, and regular security awareness training to address the physical proximity attack vector. The incident highlights the critical importance of proper cache management in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration issues can create significant security risks in enterprise asset management systems.