CVE-2015-5017 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.1 through 7.1.1.13, 7.5.0 before 7.5.0.8 IFIX005, and 7.6.0 before 7.6.0.2 IFIX002; Maximo Asset Management 7.5.0 before 7.5.0.8 IFIX005, 7.5.1, and 7.6.0 before 7.6.0.2 IFIX002 for SmartCloud Control Desk; and Maximo Asset Management 7.1 through 7.1.1.13 and 7.2 for Tivoli IT Asset Management for IT and certain other products allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions and establish a login session by entering an expired password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5017 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within IBM Maximo Asset Management and related products. This security weakness affects multiple versions of the Maximo platform including 7.1 through 7.1.1.13, 7.5.0 before 7.5.0.8 IFIX005, and 7.6.0 before 7.6.0.2 IFIX002 across various IBM asset management solutions. The flaw specifically targets the password validation mechanism, allowing authenticated users to maintain access sessions even after their passwords have expired, thereby circumventing intended security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of password expiration status during active session management. When a user's password expires within the Maximo system, the application should typically terminate existing sessions and require re-authentication with a valid credential. However, this flaw permits users to continue operating within the system using expired credentials, effectively creating a persistent backdoor for unauthorized access. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically impacts the session management and authentication components of the Maximo platform, making it particularly dangerous as it undermines fundamental security principles of credential lifecycle management.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing IBM Maximo solutions, as it allows attackers who have previously obtained valid credentials to maintain prolonged access to sensitive asset management data. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables potential attackers to perform administrative functions, modify asset records, and access confidential business information without proper authorization. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to data integrity compromise, unauthorized system modifications, and potential regulatory compliance violations. Organizations may face substantial financial and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in environments where asset management data contains sensitive business information.
Security mitigations for CVE-2015-5017 should prioritize immediate implementation of the relevant IBM IFIX patches, specifically IFIX005 for 7.5.0 versions and IFIX002 for 7.6.0 versions. System administrators should also implement enhanced monitoring of authentication events and session management activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing additional access controls such as multi-factor authentication and regular security audits of authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures. Regular vulnerability assessments and security awareness training for system administrators are essential components of a robust defense strategy against this and similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities.