CVE-2015-7452 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.5 before 7.5.0.9 FP9 and 7.6 before 7.6.0.3 FP3 and Maximo Asset Management 7.5 before 7.5.0.9 FP9, 7.5.1, and 7.6 before 7.6.0.3 FP3 for SmartCloud Control Desk allow remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via the REST API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7452 affects IBM Maximo Asset Management versions 7.5 before 7.5.0.9 FP9 and 7.6 before 7.6.0.3 FP3, as well as SmartCloud Control Desk versions 7.5 before 7.5.0.9 FP9, 7.5.1, and 7.6 before 7.6.0.3 FP3. This security flaw resides within the REST API implementation of these enterprise asset management platforms, representing a significant information disclosure vulnerability that could enable unauthorized access to sensitive operational data. The vulnerability specifically manifests when authenticated users interact with the REST API endpoints, potentially exposing confidential information through improper access controls and inadequate data validation mechanisms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control enforcement within the REST API framework of IBM Maximo Asset Management. Attackers with valid authentication credentials can exploit this weakness to retrieve sensitive information that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The flaw allows for unauthorized data exposure through API calls that should normally be protected, potentially including asset details, maintenance schedules, financial data, user credentials, and other operational information that organizations consider confidential. This represents a classic case of improper access control where the system fails to properly validate whether authenticated users have appropriate authorization levels to access specific data sets through the REST interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7452 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates potential for broader security compromise within enterprise environments. Organizations utilizing these versions of Maximo Asset Management face risks including intellectual property theft, competitive disadvantage through exposure of business-critical asset information, regulatory compliance violations, and potential escalation to more severe attacks. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to systems, and the authenticated access requirement reduces the attack surface while still maintaining significant risk levels. This weakness can be particularly damaging in industries where asset management data includes sensitive operational information, financial records, or proprietary technical specifications that could be exploited for financial gain or competitive advantage.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and fixes for Maximo Asset Management versions 7.5.0.9 FP9 and 7.6.0.3 FP3, which address the specific access control vulnerabilities in the REST API implementation. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be enforced to limit access to REST API endpoints to authorized systems and users only, while implementing robust monitoring and logging of API access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any custom configurations or third-party integrations that might amplify the impact of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include reviewing and strengthening access control policies, implementing principle of least privilege for API users, and ensuring proper input validation across all REST API endpoints. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a significant concern in the ATT&CK framework under the Privilege Escalation and Credential Access domains, highlighting the critical need for proper access control implementation in enterprise asset management systems.