CVE-2016-0248 in Security Guardium
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium 9.0 before p700 and 10.0 before p100 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to obtain sensitive query-string information from SSL sessions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0248 affects IBM Security Guardium versions 9.0 prior to p700 and 10.0 prior to p100, representing a significant security weakness in the cryptographic communication infrastructure of this database security monitoring platform. This vulnerability specifically targets the Secure Sockets Layer implementation within the Guardium system, creating an avenue for man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive query-string data transmitted through SSL sessions. The unspecified vectors suggest that the flaw may be exploitable through multiple attack paths, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on this security solution for database monitoring and protection.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of SSL session parameters, allowing attackers positioned between the client and server to intercept and extract sensitive information embedded within query strings. This represents a critical failure in the proper implementation of secure communication protocols, where the SSL/TLS encryption mechanism fails to adequately protect the confidentiality of transmitted data. The vulnerability falls under the category of cryptographic weaknesses that can be categorized as CWE-310, which specifically addresses cryptographic issues in security protocols and implementations. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security guarantees that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide, creating a scenario where even encrypted communications can be compromised.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations using IBM Security Guardium for database monitoring and compliance enforcement. The exposure of query-string information can potentially reveal sensitive business data, user credentials, system configurations, or other confidential information that attackers could leverage for further exploitation. This weakness directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of data flows between database systems and the Guardium monitoring infrastructure, potentially enabling attackers to gain insights into database activities and user behaviors. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where database security is paramount, such as financial institutions, healthcare organizations, or government agencies handling sensitive data. The man-in-the-middle attack vector means that even if organizations implement proper network segmentation, the vulnerability can still be exploited if attackers can position themselves within the communication path.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of IBM security patches and updates specifically addressing this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to IBM Security Guardium versions 9.0 p700 or later and 10.0 p100 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for the SSL session handling issues. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring solutions to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and consider implementing additional security controls such as certificate pinning or enhanced network segmentation. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which covers network service scanning, and T1566 which addresses credential harvesting through social engineering, though the specific attack vector here is more directly related to network protocol manipulation. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper cryptographic implementation as outlined in NIST SP 800-52 guidelines for secure network communications and highlights the critical need for regular security assessments of cryptographic implementations in enterprise security solutions.