CVE-2015-7238 in Threat Intelligence Exchange
Summary
by MITRE
The Secondary server in Threat Intelligence Exchange (TIE) before 1.2.0 uses weak permissions for unspecified (1) configuration files and (2) installation logs, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7238 affects the Threat Intelligence Exchange (TIE) Secondary server implementation prior to version 1.2.0. This issue resides within the security configuration management of the TIE system, specifically concerning the permission settings applied to critical system files. The vulnerability represents a privilege escalation risk that stems from inadequate file system access controls, allowing unauthorized local users to gain access to sensitive information that should remain protected. The affected components include unspecified configuration files and installation logs that contain potentially sensitive data about the system's operation and configuration parameters.
The technical flaw manifests through weak file permissions that fail to properly restrict access to sensitive information stored within the TIE Secondary server environment. Configuration files typically contain system parameters, authentication details, and operational settings that could provide attackers with insights into the system's architecture and security posture. Installation logs often contain detailed information about the installation process, including file paths, system configurations, and potentially credential information. These files are not properly secured with restrictive permissions, allowing any local user to read their contents without proper authentication or authorization. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and information hiding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked information could enable more sophisticated attacks against the TIE system. Local users who can access these configuration files and logs may discover system architecture details, authentication mechanisms, and operational parameters that could facilitate privilege escalation attacks or serve as a foundation for lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the TIE system, potentially exposing sensitive threat intelligence data and system configuration information that could be exploited by malicious actors. This weakness undermines the trust model of the security system, as it allows unauthorized access to internal system details that should remain protected.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which addresses inadequate permissions for critical security parameters, and represents a classic example of insufficient privilege separation. From an ATT&CK perspective, this issue maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, as local users can exploit weak permissions to obtain sensitive information. Organizations should implement proper file permission controls, ensuring that configuration files and logs are accessible only to authorized system processes and administrators. The recommended mitigation involves updating to TIE version 1.2.0 or later, which addresses the weak permission settings, and implementing regular security audits to verify proper file system access controls. Additionally, system administrators should establish monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to sensitive files and implement automated tools to detect and remediate weak permission configurations across the enterprise environment.