CVE-2016-0351 in Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance 7.0.x before 7.0.1.3-ISS-SIM-IF0001 does not set the secure flag for the session cookie in an HTTPS session, which makes it easier for remote attackers to capture this cookie by intercepting its transmission within an HTTP session. IBM X-Force ID: 111890.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0351 affects IBM Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance version 7.0.x prior to 7.0.1.3-ISS-SIM-IF0001, representing a critical security flaw in session management implementation. This issue specifically relates to the improper configuration of session cookies within the appliance's web interface, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise user sessions and gain unauthorized access to the identity management system. The vulnerability exists in the context of a web-based authentication mechanism where session tokens are used to maintain user state across multiple requests, making it particularly dangerous in environments where sensitive identity data is managed.
The technical flaw stems from the appliance's failure to properly implement the secure flag on session cookies when operating over HTTPS connections. This configuration oversight allows the session cookie to be transmitted in cleartext over HTTP sessions, even when the user is authenticated via HTTPS. The secure flag is a critical HTTP cookie attribute that instructs web browsers to only transmit the cookie over encrypted connections, preventing interception through man-in-the-middle attacks or network sniffing. Without this flag, attackers can capture session cookies during HTTP requests, effectively hijacking user sessions and bypassing authentication mechanisms entirely. This weakness directly maps to CWE-614, which describes insecure cookies that are not marked as secure, and represents a fundamental failure in web application security best practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it can lead to complete compromise of the identity management infrastructure. Attackers who successfully intercept session cookies can impersonate legitimate users, access sensitive identity data, modify user accounts, and potentially escalate privileges within the system. In enterprise environments where IBM Security Identity Manager is used for critical identity and access management functions, this vulnerability creates a significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the virtual appliance's web interface, which is typically accessible over the network and may be exposed to untrusted network segments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to IBM Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance version 7.0.1.3-ISS-SIM-IF0001 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly configure session cookies with the secure flag. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts, while security teams should review existing session management policies and implement additional controls such as session timeout mechanisms and multi-factor authentication. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as credential access through session hijacking and initial access via network service exploitation, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security teams to address. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security configuration management and the need for regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other web applications and systems.