CVE-2015-7487 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.1 through 7.1.1.13, 7.5.0 before 7.5.0.9 IFIX002, and 7.6.0 before 7.6.0.3 IFIX001; Maximo Asset Management 7.5.0 before 7.5.0.9 IFIX002, 7.5.1, and 7.6.0 before 7.6.0.3 IFIX001 for SmartCloud Control Desk; and Maximo Asset Management 7.1 through 7.1.1.13 and 7.2 for Tivoli IT Asset Management for IT and certain other products allow local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging administrative privileges and reading log files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7487 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within IBM Maximo Asset Management and related products. This weakness affects multiple versions of the asset management platform including Maximo 7.1 through 7.1.1.13, 7.5.0 before 7.5.0.9 IFIX002, and 7.6.0 before 7.6.0.3 IFIX001, along with SmartCloud Control Desk and Tivoli IT Asset Management for IT products. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and improper log file handling mechanisms that allow local users with administrative privileges to extract sensitive information from system log files.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper handling of log files where administrative users can access and read system logs that contain confidential data including but not limited to user credentials, system configurations, and operational details. This occurs because the system does not properly enforce access controls on log file directories and files, allowing unauthorized administrative access to sensitive information that should remain protected. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 as "Information Exposure" and specifically relates to CWE-532 which addresses "Information Exposure Through Log Files." The flaw exists due to insufficient privilege separation and inadequate logging security measures within the Maximo platform architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with access to sensitive data that could be used for further exploitation. Local users with administrative privileges can extract system configuration details, user authentication information, and operational data that could facilitate additional attacks including privilege escalation, lateral movement, and comprehensive system compromise. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 which covers "Data from Local System" and T1078 which addresses "Valid Accounts" as the compromised information could be used to establish persistence and maintain access. The exposure of log files containing sensitive information creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Maximo for asset management and operational control.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IFIX patches provided by IBM for the affected versions, implementing proper access controls on log file directories, and conducting comprehensive log file audits to identify any potential unauthorized access. System administrators should review and restrict access permissions for log files, implement proper log rotation and secure deletion mechanisms, and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper information security controls in enterprise asset management systems and highlights the need for regular security assessments and patch management processes. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access control measures to limit local administrative access to only necessary personnel and systems.