CVE-2016-0295 in BigFix Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the IBM BigFix Platform 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, and 9.5 before 9.5.2 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that insert XSS sequences. IBM X-Force ID: 111363.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The CVE-2016-0295 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the IBM BigFix Platform versions 9.0 through 9.5, excluding the patched 9.5.2 release. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of web application security and authentication mechanisms, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the platform's trust relationships. The affected versions of BigFix Platform implement a web-based administration interface that relies on session management for user authentication, making it susceptible to CSRF attacks that can manipulate user sessions without proper authorization checks. The vulnerability specifically targets the platform's handling of authentication tokens and session validation processes, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the system.
The technical exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability enables attackers to insert cross-site scripting sequences into the platform's administrative functions, effectively allowing them to hijack user sessions and execute malicious code within the context of authenticated users. This flaw stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms within the platform's web services, particularly when processing requests that modify system configurations or execute administrative commands. The vulnerability manifests when the platform fails to verify the authenticity of requests originating from external sources, relying instead on the presence of valid session cookies and user authentication tokens that can be manipulated through social engineering or other attack vectors. The XSS injection capability amplifies the impact by allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the browsers of authenticated users, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0295 extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate system configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially escalate privileges within the BigFix environment. This vulnerability affects organizations that rely on BigFix for endpoint management, security monitoring, and compliance enforcement, creating significant risks for enterprise security infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that BigFix platforms often serve as central management points for large-scale enterprise deployments, where a compromised session could provide access to thousands of managed endpoints. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it attractive to both malicious actors and advanced persistent threat groups seeking to establish long-term access to enterprise networks. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through social engineering and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, particularly web protocols.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to IBM BigFix Platform version 9.5.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the CSRF token validation issues. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper CSRF token generation and validation mechanisms, enhancing web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious request patterns, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all web-based management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper session management and authentication token validation as outlined in CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual administrative activities and establish incident response procedures for potential CSRF attack scenarios, ensuring that the platform's security posture remains robust against evolving attack techniques.