CVE-2016-0297 in Tivoli Endpoint Manager MDM
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager - Mobile Device Management (MDM) could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information due to a missing HTTP Strict-Transport-Security Header through man in the middle techniques.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0297 affects IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager's Mobile Device Management component, representing a significant security flaw that exposes organizations to potential data breaches through man-in-the-middle attacks. This issue stems from the absence of the HTTP Strict-Transport-Security header in the web application's HTTP responses, which creates a critical weakness in the system's security posture. The missing header fails to enforce secure HTTPS connections, leaving the communication channel vulnerable to interception and manipulation by malicious actors positioned between the client and server.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure to implement proper security headers that would normally protect against protocol downgrade attacks and cookie hijacking. Without the HTTP Strict-Transport-Security header, attackers can exploit the HTTP protocol to downgrade connections from secure HTTPS to insecure HTTP, enabling them to capture sensitive information transmitted between mobile devices and the MDM server. This vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication and session management mechanisms of the mobile device management platform, potentially allowing unauthorized access to device configurations, user credentials, and corporate data stored within the MDM environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it undermines the fundamental security model of mobile device management systems that rely on encrypted communication channels to protect enterprise assets. Organizations using IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager MDM may face unauthorized access to mobile device configurations, potential compromise of corporate data stored on managed devices, and exposure of sensitive user information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where mobile devices handle confidential business data, as it creates an attack vector that could lead to broader network compromise and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of the HTTP Strict-Transport-Security header across all web applications within the IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager MDM environment. Security professionals should configure the header with appropriate parameters including a sufficient max-age value, preloading directives where applicable, and includeSubDomains settings to ensure comprehensive protection. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as mandatory HTTPS enforcement, certificate pinning mechanisms, and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar header-related vulnerabilities. This issue aligns with CWE-311, which addresses the absence of sensitive data protection mechanisms, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through man-in-the-middle attacks, emphasizing the critical need for proper transport layer security implementation in enterprise mobile management solutions.