CVE-2015-7863 in Persistent Accelerite Radia Client Automation
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of Persistent Accelerite Radia Client Automation (formerly HP Client Automation) 7.9 through 9.1 before 2015-02-19 enables a remote Notify capability without the Extended Notify Security features, which might allow remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2015-7863 affects Persistent Accelerite Radia Client Automation versions 7.9 through 9.1 prior to the 2015-02-19 security patch, representing a critical security flaw in enterprise client management software. This issue stems from the default configuration that enables a remote Notify capability without activating the Extended Notify Security features, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to circumvent access controls. The vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, specifically targeting the inadequate security configuration of notification mechanisms within the client automation platform. Organizations utilizing this software in enterprise environments face heightened risk as the flaw allows unauthorized remote access to client systems through unspecified attack vectors that bypass intended security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the misconfiguration of the notification subsystem where the system defaults to a less secure mode that permits remote communication without proper authentication or encryption mechanisms. The Extended Notify Security features that should be enabled by default appear to have been disabled or not properly activated in the default installation, creating a backdoor for remote attackers to execute unauthorized operations against managed endpoints. This configuration issue demonstrates poor security by design principles where the software's default state does not adequately protect against remote exploitation, requiring administrators to manually enable additional security controls that should be active out-of-the-box. The unspecified vectors suggest that attackers could potentially leverage this weakness through various communication channels or protocols that the notification system employs to interact with client machines.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to managed client systems within the organization's network, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary commands, deploy malware, or extract sensitive data from endpoint devices. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where client automation systems manage numerous endpoints across different locations. The attack surface extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network, as compromised endpoints could serve as launching points for further attacks. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of enterprise client management operations, potentially affecting hundreds or thousands of managed devices depending on the organization's deployment scope.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided security patch released on 2015-02-19 to address this vulnerability, while also conducting comprehensive audits of their Radia Client Automation configurations to ensure that Extended Notify Security features are properly enabled. System administrators should review and harden the default security settings of the software to prevent similar misconfigurations, implementing principle of least privilege controls for notification services. The remediation process should include disabling unnecessary remote notification capabilities and ensuring that all communication channels are properly secured with authentication and encryption mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1072, which covers software deployment attacks, and demonstrates the importance of proper software configuration management in enterprise security. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts to client automation systems, as the default insecure configuration creates persistent exposure windows that require immediate attention and long-term security policy enforcement.