CVE-2016-0340 in Security Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Identity Manager (ISIM) Virtual Appliance 7.0.0.0 through 7.0.1.1 before 7.0.1-ISS-SIM-FP0003 mishandles session expiration, which allows remote attackers to hijack sessions by leveraging an unattended workstation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0340 affects IBM Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance versions 7.0.0.0 through 7.0.1.1 prior to the 7.0.1-ISS-SIM-FP0003 patch release. This security flaw represents a critical session management weakness that undermines the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the ISIM platform. The vulnerability specifically targets the appliance's session expiration handling capabilities, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on this identity management solution for their security infrastructure.
The technical flaw stems from improper session expiration logic within the ISIM Virtual Appliance implementation. When a user's session expires due to inactivity or other predefined conditions, the system fails to properly terminate or invalidate the session state. This malfunction allows unauthorized remote attackers to exploit the gap in session management by simply accessing an unattended workstation where a valid session might still be active. The vulnerability operates under the principle that session tokens remain valid beyond their intended expiration time, creating a window of opportunity for session hijacking attacks.
This vulnerability has substantial operational impact on organizations using IBM ISIM Virtual Appliance deployments. The ability for remote attackers to hijack active sessions compromises the integrity of the identity management system and potentially allows unauthorized access to sensitive corporate resources. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges, access restricted data, perform unauthorized transactions, or conduct further reconnaissance within the network. The risk is particularly severe in environments where the appliance controls access to critical systems and applications, as successful exploitation could lead to widespread privilege escalation and data breaches.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which describes inadequate session expiration handling, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.003 for abuse of session management. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch 7.0.1-ISS-SIM-FP0003 to resolve the session expiration handling flaw. Additionally, administrators should configure appropriate session timeout values, implement robust session monitoring, and establish strict policies for workstation security. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual session activity patterns. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls and ensure comprehensive protection against similar session management vulnerabilities.