CVE-2016-0298 in Security Guardium Database Activity Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in IBM Security Guardium Database Activity Monitor 10 before 10.0p100 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0298 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within IBM Security Guardium Database Activity Monitor version 10 prior to 10.0p100. This security weakness enables remote authenticated attackers to access arbitrary files on the system by manipulating URL parameters in crafted requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's web interface, specifically affecting how the system processes file path references in HTTP requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of URL parameters that reference file paths within the application's directory structure. When an authenticated user submits a specially crafted URL containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before processing file access requests. This allows attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access files that should remain restricted, potentially including configuration files, log data, or other sensitive system information.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to database security monitoring environments where Guardium is deployed. The ability to read arbitrary files remotely compromises the integrity of the security monitoring infrastructure, potentially exposing sensitive data such as database credentials, configuration settings, or audit logs that contain detailed information about database activities. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into database access patterns, identify potential attack vectors, or extract confidential information that would normally be protected within the monitoring system.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a stepping stone for further attacks within the network environment. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, which focuses on identifying files and directories accessible to the attacker. Organizations using IBM Security Guardium Database Activity Monitor should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the vendor-provided patch version 10.0p100 or equivalent security updates.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include implementing proper input validation and sanitization controls within the application's web interface, enforcing strict access controls for file operations, and regularly updating security monitoring systems to address known vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring of suspicious file access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their database monitoring infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities that could compromise the security posture of their database environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect critical database monitoring systems from exploitation attempts targeting authentication bypass and information disclosure vulnerabilities.