CVE-2016-0242 in Security Guardium
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium 10.x through 10.1 before p100 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information by reading an Application Error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2019
IBM Security Guardium version 10.x through 10.1 before p100 contains a vulnerability that exposes sensitive information through application error messages, representing a critical information disclosure flaw categorized under CWE-200. This vulnerability affects remote authenticated users who can leverage the application error handling mechanism to extract confidential data from error responses. The flaw occurs when the system generates detailed error messages that include internal system information, configuration details, or data structures that should remain hidden from unauthorized users. The vulnerability exists in the application's error reporting functionality where insufficient sanitization of error messages allows attackers to gain insights into the underlying system architecture, database schemas, or other sensitive operational details that could aid in further exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling practices within the Guardium application framework. When authenticated users trigger specific error conditions, the system responds with verbose error messages that contain more information than necessary for legitimate troubleshooting purposes. These error responses often include stack traces, internal file paths, database connection details, or other system-specific information that should be logged internally but not exposed to end users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, making it accessible to users with legitimate access credentials who may attempt to gather intelligence for privilege escalation or system compromise.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked information can significantly aid attackers in planning more sophisticated attacks against the Guardium environment. The sensitive data exposed through these error messages could include database schema information, system configurations, or internal application logic that would otherwise be protected. This information disclosure creates opportunities for attackers to map the system architecture, identify potential attack vectors, or craft more targeted exploits against other components of the security infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially undermines the principle of least privilege by exposing system internals to authenticated users who should have limited visibility into the underlying system structure.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of mitigation to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary recommendation involves configuring the application to sanitize error messages and prevent the inclusion of sensitive system information in user-facing responses. This includes implementing proper error handling that logs detailed information internally while presenting generic error messages to users. Organizations should also review and update their Guardium installations to the latest patches, specifically p100 or later versions that address this information disclosure issue. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the impact of potential exploitation, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of error message access that might indicate reconnaissance activities. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 which involves manipulating error messages to gain system information, and CWE-200 which addresses information exposure through error handling. Organizations should also consider implementing application firewalls or web application security controls that can filter and sanitize error responses before they reach end users, providing an additional defense-in-depth layer against similar vulnerabilities.