CVE-2015-5013 in Security Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The IBM Security Access Manager appliance includes configuration files that contain obfuscated plaintext-passwords which authenticated users can access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5013 represents a critical security flaw within the IBM Security Access Manager appliance that exposes sensitive authentication credentials through improperly secured configuration files. This issue stems from the appliance's design where administrative passwords and other authentication credentials are stored in an obfuscated format within configuration files that remain accessible to authenticated users. The obfuscation mechanism, while intended to provide some level of protection, proves insufficient against determined attackers who can access these files through legitimate administrative interfaces. The vulnerability specifically affects IBM Security Access Manager appliances running version 9.0.0.0 and earlier versions, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on this security infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of authentication credentials within the appliance's configuration management system. When administrators configure the appliance, password values are stored in configuration files using a form of obfuscation that can be reverse-engineered or bypassed by authenticated users with appropriate privileges. This design flaw creates a privilege escalation vector where users who can access the configuration files can extract plaintext passwords, potentially gaining access to other systems or services that share these credentials. The vulnerability falls under CWE-256, which addresses the storage of plaintext passwords, and more specifically aligns with CWE-522, which covers insufficiently protected credentials. The obfuscation approach used in this implementation fails to meet industry standards for credential protection, as it does not provide adequate cryptographic security or access controls to prevent unauthorized extraction of sensitive information.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5013 extends beyond simple credential exposure, creating cascading security risks for organizations using IBM Security Access Manager appliances. An attacker who gains access to these configuration files can potentially compromise not only the appliance itself but also other systems that rely on the exposed credentials. This vulnerability enables unauthorized access to network resources, service accounts, and administrative privileges that may be shared across multiple systems within the organization's infrastructure. The risk is particularly elevated because authenticated users already possess legitimate access to the appliance, making the attack surface more accessible than typical credential exposure scenarios. Organizations may face compliance violations under standards such as pci dss, iso 27001, and nist cybersecurity framework due to the exposure of sensitive authentication information. The vulnerability also increases the attack surface for lateral movement within networks, as compromised credentials can be used to access additional systems or services that share the same authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5013 require immediate implementation of both administrative and technical controls to protect exposed credentials. Organizations should upgrade to IBM Security Access Manager versions that address this vulnerability, specifically version 9.0.1.0 or later, which include enhanced credential protection mechanisms. System administrators must implement strict access controls and privilege management to limit who can access configuration files within the appliance, ensuring that only essential personnel have access to these sensitive resources. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced through role-based access controls that restrict access to configuration files based on job requirements. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files. Additionally, organizations should implement credential rotation policies to ensure that exposed passwords are regularly changed, and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential credential compromise. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security assessments to identify any other configuration files that may contain exposed credentials, aligning with best practices from the mitre att&ck framework where credential access and privilege escalation are key attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security such as multi-factor authentication for administrative access and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their security infrastructure.