CVE-2015-5012 in Security Access Manager For Web Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
The SSH implementation on IBM Security Access Manager for Web appliances 7.0 before 7.0.0 FP19, 8.0 before 8.0.1.3 IF3, and 9.0 before 9.0.0.0 IF1 does not properly restrict the set of MAC algorithms, which makes it easier for remote attackers to defeat cryptographic protection mechanisms via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5012 affects IBM Security Access Manager for Web appliances across multiple versions including 7.0 before 7.0.0 FP19, 8.0 before 8.0.1.3 IF3, and 9.0 before 9.0.0.0 IF1. This issue resides in the Secure Shell implementation where the system fails to properly restrict the set of Message Authentication Code algorithms available for use during SSH connections. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit unspecified vectors that could potentially compromise cryptographic protection mechanisms, undermining the security assurances typically provided by SSH communications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper configuration of cryptographic algorithm restrictions within the SSH implementation. When SSH connections are established, the protocol negotiates various cryptographic parameters including MAC algorithms that ensure data integrity and authenticity. The vulnerability occurs because the IBM appliance does not adequately restrict which MAC algorithms can be used during the SSH negotiation process, potentially allowing attackers to select weaker or deprecated algorithms that may be susceptible to cryptographic attacks. This misconfiguration creates opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks or data integrity compromises that could lead to unauthorized access or information disclosure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on IBM Security Access Manager for Web appliances for secure remote access and authentication. The impact extends beyond simple cryptographic weakness as it affects the fundamental security assurances of SSH communications that are critical for protecting sensitive data transfers and remote administrative access. Attackers could leverage this weakness to perform cryptographic attacks against SSH sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking, data interception, or privilege escalation within the affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple major versions of the IBM Security Access Manager platform, indicating a widespread potential impact across enterprise deployments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and represents a failure to properly implement cryptographic restrictions as outlined in security best practices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could enable techniques such as T1566 (Phishing) or T1021 (Remote Services) where attackers might exploit the weakened cryptographic protections to gain unauthorized access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security fixes and patches, reviewing SSH configuration settings to enforce stronger MAC algorithm restrictions, and monitoring for suspicious SSH connection patterns. The recommended approach involves updating to the patched versions of IBM Security Access Manager for Web appliances and implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing alternative authentication methods or network segmentation to reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of such cryptographic weaknesses in their security infrastructure.