CVE-2015-4953 in BigFix Remote Control
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Remote Control before Interim Fix pack 9.1.2-TIV-IBRC912-IF0001 makes it easier for man-in-the-middle attackers to decrypt traffic by leveraging a weakness in its encryption protocol. IBM X-Force ID: 105197.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4953 affects IBM BigFix Remote Control software prior to Interim Fix pack 9.1.2-TIV-IBRC912-IF0001, representing a significant security weakness in the encryption protocol implementation. This flaw creates an exploitable condition that allows man-in-the-middle attackers to more easily decrypt network traffic intercepted during remote control sessions, fundamentally undermining the confidentiality protections that remote management tools are designed to provide. The vulnerability specifically targets the encryption mechanisms used by IBM BigFix Remote Control, which is widely deployed for enterprise remote system management and support operations. The weakness enables attackers to intercept and potentially manipulate communication between remote control clients and servers, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of remote administration sessions.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient cryptographic protocol design within the IBM BigFix Remote Control system, creating a vulnerability that falls under the category of weak cryptographic algorithms or improper encryption implementation. This weakness allows attackers to perform protocol downgrade attacks or exploit known vulnerabilities in the encryption handshake process, making it significantly easier to decrypt intercepted communications without requiring advanced cryptographic cracking techniques. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core security mechanism of a remote administration tool that is commonly used in enterprise environments where sensitive system management operations occur. The attack vector is specifically designed to exploit the communication channel between remote control components, enabling passive eavesdropping and active decryption of data in transit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to gain unauthorized access to managed systems through the compromised remote control sessions. Organizations utilizing IBM BigFix Remote Control without the applicable patch are at risk of having their remote management traffic intercepted, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized administrative access. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security posture of enterprises that rely on remote management capabilities, as it undermines trust in the encrypted communication channels used for critical system maintenance and support operations. This weakness can be exploited by attackers who are positioned within the network to intercept traffic, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented.
Organizations should immediately implement the recommended interim fix pack 9.1.2-TIV-IBRC912-IF0001 to address this vulnerability and restore proper encryption protections. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and verification that all BigFix Remote Control installations have been updated. Security teams should also review their remote management protocols and consider implementing additional network security controls such as network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and enhanced monitoring of remote access activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-327 which addresses broken or weak cryptographic algorithms, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in network security. The attack pattern is consistent with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under network infiltration and credential access categories, where adversaries exploit weak encryption to gain unauthorized access to systems through legitimate administrative channels. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms and additional authentication layers to further protect against this type of cryptographic attack vector.