CVE-2016-0235 in Security Guardium Database Activity Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium Database Activity Monitor 10 allows local users to have unspecified impact by leveraging administrator access to a hardcoded password, related to use on GRUB systems. IBM X-Force ID: 110326.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0235 affects IBM Security Guardium Database Activity Monitor version 10, representing a critical security flaw that enables local attackers with administrator privileges to exploit a hardcoded password mechanism within GRUB boot loader systems. This vulnerability stems from the improper implementation of authentication mechanisms within the Guardium monitoring solution, specifically when deployed on systems utilizing GRUB boot loaders. The hardcoded password creates a persistent backdoor access vector that remains unaffected by normal authentication procedures and password changes, fundamentally undermining the security posture of the monitored database environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the presence of a hardcoded credential within the GRUB bootloader configuration, which serves as a persistent access point for local users who have already achieved administrator-level privileges. This flaw represents a direct violation of security best practices and aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software implementations. The vulnerability operates at the system boot level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited before normal operating system security controls are fully initialized. Attackers leveraging this weakness can potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive database monitoring data and potentially manipulate the Guardium monitoring processes themselves.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers who have already compromised administrative access to the system. This allows for extended persistence within the monitored database environment, potentially enabling data exfiltration, modification of monitoring configurations, or complete compromise of the database activity monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on IBM Security Guardium for database security monitoring, potentially leaving their database environments exposed to long-term surveillance or attack. The use of GRUB systems specifically amplifies the risk as these boot loaders typically operate with elevated privileges and are critical components of system initialization.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including removal of hardcoded credentials from GRUB configurations, deployment of updated Guardium versions that address this specific vulnerability, and implementation of additional access controls to limit administrative privileges. The remediation process should involve comprehensive system audits to identify any hardcoded credentials or backdoors, followed by secure configuration of GRUB boot loaders without persistent authentication bypass mechanisms. Security controls should also include monitoring for unauthorized changes to boot configurations and implementation of privileged access management solutions to reduce the attack surface. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure boot loader configurations and proper credential management practices as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and MITRE ATT&CK framework's initial access and persistence categories.