CVE-2015-4952 in Endpoint Manager for Remote Control
Summary
by MITRE
The on-demand plugin in IBM Endpoint Manager for Remote Control 9.0.1 and 9.1.0 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors. IBM X-Force ID: 105196.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4952 resides within the on-demand plugin component of IBM Endpoint Manager for Remote Control version 9.0.1 and 9.1.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution under specific conditions. This issue falls under the category of privilege escalation and remote code execution vulnerabilities, which are particularly dangerous as they can allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems and execute malicious code remotely. The vulnerability is classified as user-assisted, meaning that successful exploitation requires some form of user interaction or specific conditions to be met by the attacker. The IBM X-Force ID 105196 further emphasizes the significance of this flaw within the broader security landscape, indicating that IBM has recognized its potential impact on enterprise environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and handling within the on-demand plugin functionality, which processes remote control requests from endpoints. When a user interacts with the remote control feature, the plugin receives and processes data that should be validated and sanitized before execution. However, the flaw allows malicious data to bypass normal validation checks, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on the target system. This type of vulnerability is commonly categorized as a CWE-74, Deserialization of Untrusted Data, or potentially CWE-119, Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer, depending on the specific implementation details of how the data is processed. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how insufficient input sanitization can lead to severe security consequences in enterprise management tools.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4952 extends significantly beyond simple remote code execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to enterprise endpoints managed through IBM Endpoint Manager. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially gain complete control over affected systems, allowing them to install malware, steal sensitive data, or use the compromised systems as launching points for further attacks within the network. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the systems, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that rely heavily on remote management capabilities. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as well as T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, since successful exploitation would likely require the attacker to have access to legitimate user accounts or the ability to create them.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the remote control management systems, and monitoring for suspicious network activity related to the affected components. Additional security measures should include disabling unnecessary remote access features, implementing strict access controls and authentication mechanisms, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other enterprise management tools. The remediation process should also involve thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure that the updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing enterprise infrastructure. Security teams should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions specifically designed to detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with remote code execution attempts, as well as maintaining detailed audit logs of all remote access activities for forensic analysis purposes.