CVE-2015-4991 in SPSS Modeler
Summary
by MITRE
IBM SPSS Modeler 14.2 through FP3 IF027, 15 through FP3 IF015, 16 through FP2 IF012, 17 through FP1 IF018, and 17.1 through IF008 includes unspecified cleartext data in memory dumps, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading a dump file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2019
IBM SPSS Modeler versions 14.2 through FP3 IF027, 15 through FP3 IF015, 16 through FP2 IF012, 17 through FP1 IF018, and 17.1 through IF008 contain a vulnerability classified as a cleartext data exposure in memory dumps. This flaw allows local attackers to extract sensitive information from memory dump files, which typically occur during system crashes or debugging sessions. The vulnerability arises from the improper handling of sensitive data within memory structures that persist in dump files, creating an information disclosure risk for any local user who can access these files.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves the storage of sensitive information in memory regions that are not properly secured or sanitized before dump file generation. Memory dumps typically contain complete snapshots of a process's memory space including variables, buffers, and other runtime data structures. When sensitive data such as passwords, encryption keys, or personal information is stored in these memory areas, they can be inadvertently exposed through the dump file creation process. This represents a direct violation of data protection principles and creates a persistent exposure vector that extends beyond the normal execution context of the application.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local privilege escalation attacks where an attacker with minimal system access can gain access to sensitive information that would normally be protected during normal application operation. The exposure of cleartext data in memory dumps can lead to credential theft, system compromise, and unauthorized access to protected datasets. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract authentication tokens, database connection strings, API keys, and other confidential information that may be stored in memory during processing operations. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that handle sensitive data and rely on SPSS Modeler for statistical analysis and data processing tasks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-200 (Information Exposure) categories, representing a fundamental flaw in how sensitive data is managed within application memory. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1005 (Data from Local System) and T1074 (Data Staged) as attackers can harvest information from memory dumps and stage it for further exploitation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches, restricting access to memory dump files, and implementing proper memory sanitization practices. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring for memory dump file creation and access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure memory management practices and proper data handling throughout the application lifecycle, particularly in enterprise analytics platforms that process sensitive information.