CVE-2016-0358 in Sametime
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sametime 8.5.2 and 9.0 could allow an unauthorized authenticated user to enumerate group chat ID numbers and join meetings that he was not invited to. IBM X-Force ID: 111928.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0358 affects IBM Sametime versions 8.5.2 and 9.0, representing a significant authorization bypass flaw that undermines the security model of the collaborative communication platform. This issue stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within the Sametime meeting and group chat systems, allowing authenticated users to exploit weaknesses in the system's identification and access validation processes. The vulnerability specifically targets the group chat ID enumeration functionality and meeting participation controls, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to protected communication channels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of predictable or discoverable group chat identifiers and meeting parameters that should normally be restricted to authorized participants only. Attackers can leverage this flaw to systematically enumerate valid group chat IDs and meeting identifiers, effectively bypassing the intended access controls that should prevent unauthorized participation in private or restricted sessions. This enumeration capability enables attackers to join meetings without proper invitation or authorization, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive communications within the Sametime environment. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the session management and access control components of the Sametime client-server architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model of the Sametime platform and could enable various downstream attacks. An attacker with access to this vulnerability could potentially conduct surveillance on private meetings, disrupt ongoing communications, or gain access to sensitive information shared within restricted group chats and meetings. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and could be leveraged as a stepping stone for more extensive attacks within an organization's communication infrastructure. The vulnerability also affects the overall security posture of organizations relying on Sametime for business-critical communications, as it undermines the confidentiality guarantees that users expect from enterprise collaboration platforms.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability, reviewing and strengthening access control policies for Sametime meetings and group chats, and implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to Sametime services. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual enumeration patterns or unauthorized meeting participation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, though the specific implementation targets the application's authorization mechanisms rather than account compromise directly. System administrators should also consider implementing additional authentication layers and session management controls to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities in the Sametime platform.