CVE-2015-4950 in Tivoli Storage FlashCopy Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The mailbox-restore feature in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Mail: Data Protection for Microsoft Exchange Server 6.1 before 6.1.3.6, 6.3 before 6.3.1.3, 6.4 before 6.4.1.4, and 7.1 before 7.1.0.2; Tivoli Storage FlashCopy Manager: FlashCopy Manager for Microsoft Exchange Server 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 before 3.1.1.5, 3.2 before 3.2.1.7, and 4.1 before 4.1.1; and Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack for Microsoft Exchange 6.1 before 6.1.5.4 does not ensure that the correct mailbox is selected, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via a duplicate alias name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4950 affects multiple IBM Tivoli Storage Manager products including Data Protection for Microsoft Exchange Server, FlashCopy Manager for Microsoft Exchange Server, and FastBack for Microsoft Exchange. This security flaw resides in the mailbox-restore functionality where the system fails to properly validate or verify the correct mailbox selection when duplicate alias names exist. The issue manifests as a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows remote authenticated attackers to access unauthorized mailbox data through manipulation of alias names. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to the listed patched releases, creating a window of exposure across multiple product lines and version branches.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient mailbox identification mechanisms within the restore process. When multiple mailboxes share identical alias names, the system's selection algorithm fails to properly distinguish between them, leading to potential data leakage. This flaw represents a classic case of improper access control where the system does not enforce proper authentication checks during the mailbox restoration process. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically involving insufficient authorization checks during resource access operations. From an operational perspective, this issue allows attackers to potentially access sensitive email data belonging to other users within the same organization, creating significant confidentiality risks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise entire email infrastructure security. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access confidential communications, personal data, and business-sensitive information stored in Exchange mailboxes. The remote authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the system but can leverage existing user credentials to perform unauthorized mailbox restoration operations. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on IBM Tivoli Storage Manager products for email backup and recovery operations, as it undermines the integrity of the backup restoration process. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 legitimate credentials, where adversaries use valid accounts to access systems and data, and T1566 credential harvesting, where unauthorized access to mailbox data can be achieved through manipulation of system functions.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches for all affected versions of IBM Tivoli Storage Manager products to remediate this vulnerability. The patching strategy should prioritize the most critical versions including Tivoli Storage Manager for Mail Data Protection 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, and 7.1, along with FlashCopy Manager versions 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, and 4.1, and FastBack for Microsoft Exchange 6.1. Additionally, administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, monitor restore operations for suspicious activities, and conduct regular security audits of backup and recovery processes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in storage management systems, particularly those handling sensitive email data. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized mailbox restoration attempts and establish incident response procedures specific to backup system compromises.