CVE-2016-0271 in UrbanCode Deploy
Summary
by MITRE
The agents in IBM UrbanCode Deploy 6.x before 6.0.1.14, 6.1.x before 6.1.3.3, and 6.2.x before 6.2.1.1 do not verify a server's identity in a JMS session or an HTTP session, which allows local users to obtain root access to arbitrary agents via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0271 affects IBM UrbanCode Deploy versions prior to specific patch releases, creating a critical security weakness in the agent authentication mechanism. This flaw resides in the agent components that handle both JMS (Java Message Service) sessions and HTTP sessions, where proper server identity verification is absent. The vulnerability represents a classic man-in-the-middle attack vector that enables local users to escalate privileges to root access on affected agents. The lack of server identity verification means that malicious actors can impersonate legitimate servers and establish connections without proper authentication mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient cryptographic validation within the agent communication protocols. When agents establish connections through JMS or HTTP channels, they fail to validate the server certificates or authentication tokens that should confirm the legitimate identity of the connecting server. This absence of verification creates a trust relationship that can be exploited by local attackers who have access to the system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows privilege escalation from a local user account to root privileges, effectively providing complete system compromise. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack could occur through multiple pathways including local network manipulation, file system compromise, or other local access methods.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of IBM UrbanCode Deploy by allowing unauthorized access to agent systems that are typically considered secure within the deployment infrastructure. The root access gained through this vulnerability provides attackers with complete control over the affected agents, potentially enabling them to modify deployment configurations, access sensitive deployment artifacts, or disrupt the entire deployment pipeline. Organizations relying on UrbanCode Deploy for critical application deployments face significant risk of supply chain compromise, as compromised agents could be used to inject malicious code into the deployment process. The vulnerability affects multiple version streams including 6.x, 6.1.x, and 6.2.x, indicating a widespread impact across the product line.
Security controls and mitigation strategies should address the core authentication weakness by implementing proper certificate validation and server identity verification mechanisms. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor patches released for versions 6.0.1.14, 6.1.3.3, and 6.2.1.1 to resolve the vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to agent systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Additional mitigations include implementing strict access controls on agent systems, enabling audit logging for all agent connections, and conducting regular security assessments of the deployment infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.