CVE-2016-0296 in Tivoli Endpoint Manager MDM
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager - Mobile Device Management (MDM) stores potentially sensitive information in log files that could be available to a local user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0296 affects IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager Mobile Device Management component, which is designed to provide enterprise mobile device management capabilities. This flaw represents a critical security oversight in how the system handles sensitive data storage and access control. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the MDM software writes potentially sensitive information to log files that are accessible to local users on the affected systems. This represents a classic case of insecure logging practices where system administrators fail to properly secure sensitive data that is inadvertently written to persistent storage locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls and data handling mechanisms within the IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager MDM software. When the system processes mobile device management operations, it generates log entries that contain sensitive information such as authentication credentials, device identifiers, or other confidential data. These log files are typically created with insufficient permissions or are stored in locations where local users can access them without proper authorization. The flaw aligns with CWE-532, which addresses information exposure through log files, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in system security design. The vulnerability essentially creates an information disclosure channel that allows unauthorized local access to sensitive operational data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with potential access to credentials and device management information that could be leveraged for further attacks. A local attacker with access to the system can retrieve sensitive information from these log files, potentially gaining insights into device configurations, user credentials, or management operations that could be used to escalate privileges or conduct targeted attacks against the managed devices. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where multiple users may have local access to managed devices, creating a significant risk for organizations that rely on IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager for mobile device security management. The impact is compounded by the fact that these log files often contain detailed operational information that could be exploited by threat actors to understand system behavior and identify additional attack vectors.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by reviewing and restricting access permissions on log file directories, implementing proper log rotation and cleanup procedures, and ensuring that sensitive information is not written to log files in the first place. System administrators should also consider implementing centralized logging solutions with proper access controls and encryption mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and proper data handling procedures, particularly in enterprise security management software. From an att&ck framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation through information discovery, making it a significant concern for organizations that rely on mobile device management solutions for enterprise security. Regular security assessments and proper configuration management should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other enterprise security tools and applications.