CVE-2015-7404 in Tivoli Storage
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Databases: Data Protection for Microsoft SQL Server (aka Spectrum Protect for Databases) 5.5 before 5.5.6.2, 6.3 before 6.3.1.6, 6.4 before 6.4.1.8, and 7.1 before 7.1.4; Tivoli Storage Manager for Mail: Data Protection for Microsoft Exchange Server (aka Spectrum Protect for Mail) 5.5 before 5.5.1.1, 6.1 and 6.3 before 6.3.1.6, 6.4 before 6.4.1.8, and 7.1 before 7.1.4; and Tivoli Storage FlashCopy Manager for Windows (aka Spectrum Protect Snapshot) 2.x and 3.1 before 3.1.1.6, 3.2 before 3.2.1.8, and 4.1 before 4.1.4, when application tracing is configured, writes cleartext passwords during changetsmpassword command execution, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the application trace output.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2018
This vulnerability exists in multiple IBM Tivoli Storage Manager products including Spectrum Protect for Databases, Spectrum Protect for Mail, and Spectrum Protect Snapshot. The flaw occurs when application tracing is enabled and the changetsmpassword command is executed, resulting in cleartext password exposure within trace output files. This represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that directly violates security principles of least privilege and confidentiality. The vulnerability affects versions prior to specific patch releases across multiple product lines, indicating a widespread issue that impacts database protection, email protection, and snapshot management functionalities.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper handling of sensitive authentication data within application trace mechanisms. When the changetsmpassword command executes, the system fails to sanitize or encrypt password values before writing them to trace files, creating persistent cleartext credentials in log directories. This design oversight creates a direct attack vector where local users can access trace files and extract authentication credentials without requiring elevated privileges or complex exploitation techniques. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the integrity of the system's credential management processes, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users may have access to system directories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential lateral movement and privilege escalation within affected environments. Local attackers who can read trace files gain access to administrative passwords used for database protection, email backup operations, and snapshot management systems. This information can be leveraged to compromise entire backup infrastructures, potentially leading to data loss, unauthorized access to production systems, and complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects organizations using IBM's enterprise backup solutions, where the compromised credentials could provide access to critical business data across multiple platforms and applications.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including disabling application tracing when not actively debugging, ensuring proper file permissions on trace directories, and applying the vendor patches released for affected versions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-200 (Information Exposure) categories, demonstrating poor security practices in credential handling and logging. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1552 (Unsecured Credentials) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) techniques, as it enables adversaries to obtain legitimate credentials through information disclosure rather than brute force or social engineering approaches. Security monitoring should focus on trace file access patterns and unauthorized file system reads in system directories where logging information is stored.