CVE-2016-0222 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.6 before 7.6.0.3 IFIX001 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions and read arbitrary purchase-order work logs via unspecified vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0222 affects IBM Maximo Asset Management version 7.6 before 7.6.0.3 IFIX001, representing a critical access control flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to bypass intended security restrictions. This issue resides within the application's authorization mechanisms, specifically impacting the protection of sensitive purchase-order work logs that contain confidential business information. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions and access controls, allowing malicious actors with legitimate credentials to access data they should not be authorized to view. Such a flaw fundamentally undermines the integrity of the system's security model and can lead to significant data exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves unspecified vectors that likely exploit weaknesses in the application's role-based access control system. Attackers with valid user accounts can manipulate the application's access control logic to retrieve purchase-order work logs that contain sensitive procurement information, including vendor details, pricing data, and transaction histories. This represents a privilege escalation issue where authenticated users can access data beyond their designated permissions, violating fundamental security principles of least privilege and principle of least privilege enforcement. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and demonstrates how inadequate authorization checks can lead to unauthorized data access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as purchase-order work logs contain highly sensitive business information that could be exploited for competitive advantage or financial gain. Organizations using IBM Maximo Asset Management may face significant regulatory compliance challenges if this vulnerability results in unauthorized access to procurement data, particularly in industries subject to strict data protection requirements such as healthcare, finance, or government contracting. The remote nature of the attack vector means that threat actors do not require physical access to the network or system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous. This type of vulnerability can be exploited to gather intelligence about organizational procurement practices, supplier relationships, and financial activities.
Organizations should immediately implement the available patch from IBM that addresses this specific access control flaw in the Maximo Asset Management system. The patch likely includes enhanced authorization checks and improved validation of user permissions when accessing purchase-order work logs. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of access controls within the Maximo environment to identify any other potential weaknesses in the authorization framework. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to the Maximo application, enabling detailed logging and monitoring of access attempts to sensitive data, and conducting regular security assessments of the application's access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and credential access techniques, emphasizing the importance of maintaining proper access controls and monitoring for anomalous access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.