CVE-2015-7411 in Tivoli Monitoring
Summary
by MITRE
The portal client in IBM Tivoli Monitoring (ITM) 6.2.2 through FP9, 6.2.3 through FP5, and 6.3.0 through FP6 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7411 affects IBM Tivoli Monitoring (ITM) versions 6.2.2 through FP9, 6.2.3 through FP5, and 6.3.0 through FP6, representing a significant privilege escalation issue within the portal client component. This flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to elevate their privileges, potentially gaining unauthorized access to critical monitoring functionalities and system resources. The vulnerability resides in the portal client implementation which handles user authentication and authorization processes, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate access controls and escalate their privileges within the monitoring environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the portal client's privilege management system. Attackers who have already established authenticated sessions can exploit unspecified vectors to bypass intended security boundaries and gain elevated permissions. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-264, which encompasses permissions, privileges, and access control weaknesses, and may also relate to CWE-250, which deals with execution with unnecessary privileges. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation,' where adversaries leverage system weaknesses to gain higher-level permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7411 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive monitoring data, modify system configurations, and compromise the integrity of the entire monitoring infrastructure. Given that IBM Tivoli Monitoring serves as a critical component for enterprise-wide system monitoring and management, this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain visibility into network operations, system performance metrics, and potentially access confidential business information. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where monitoring systems are often exposed to various network segments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of official IBM security patches and firmware updates. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive network segmentation to limit access to ITM components, implementation of robust monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, and regular security assessments of monitoring infrastructure. Additionally, organizations should review their access control policies and implement the principle of least privilege to minimize potential damage from such vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider conducting penetration testing to verify the effectiveness of their mitigations and ensure that no other related vulnerabilities exist within the ITM ecosystem. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access control implementations in enterprise monitoring systems, as these components often serve as prime targets for sophisticated attackers seeking persistent access to critical infrastructure.