CVE-2015-7401 in Curam Social Program Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Curam Social Program Management 6.1.x before 6.1.1.1 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions and obtain sensitive document information by guessing the document id. IBM X-Force ID: 107106.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7401 affects IBM Curam Social Program Management version 6.1.x prior to 6.1.1.1, representing a significant security flaw that undermines the system's access control mechanisms. This issue manifests as an insufficient authorization vulnerability that enables remote authenticated attackers to circumvent intended security restrictions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive document information. The flaw specifically exploits weaknesses in the document identification system, allowing malicious users to bypass normal access controls through systematic guessing of document identifiers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access control enforcement within the document management subsystem of IBM Curam Social Program Management. When users attempt to access documents within the system, the application fails to properly verify that the requesting user has legitimate authorization to access the specific document identified by the guessed document ID. This weakness creates a predictable pattern where authenticated users can systematically enumerate document identifiers until they discover valid ones that correspond to sensitive information they should not be able to access. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a weakness categorized under CWE-284, which deals with improper access control mechanisms, specifically manifesting as inadequate access control for document retrieval operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating substantial risks for organizations relying on IBM Curam Social Program Management for sensitive social program data management. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw can access confidential information related to social assistance programs, beneficiary records, and other sensitive documentation that typically requires strict access controls. This unauthorized access could lead to data breaches, privacy violations, and potential misuse of sensitive personal information belonging to program participants. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the system's data protection mechanisms, potentially compromising the trustworthiness of the entire social program management platform. Organizations using this software may face regulatory compliance issues and reputational damage if sensitive data is exposed through this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7401 should prioritize immediate patch application to IBM Curam Social Program Management 6.1.1.1 or later versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional access control measures including proper input validation, randomization of document identifiers, and enhanced logging of document access attempts. Network segmentation and monitoring of access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems that might be similarly affected by predictable identifier patterns. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in system functionality while properly addressing the access control weakness. Additionally, organizations should review their overall document management security practices and consider implementing more robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their social program management infrastructure.