CVE-2016-0371 in Tivoli Storage Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) password may be displayed in plain text via application trace output while application tracing is enabled.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0371 resides within IBM Tivoli Storage Manager, a comprehensive data protection and storage management solution widely deployed across enterprise environments. This weakness represents a critical security oversight that directly impacts the confidentiality of authentication credentials within the system. The vulnerability manifests when application tracing is enabled, which is often a necessary diagnostic tool for administrators troubleshooting storage management operations. When tracing is active, the system inadvertently exposes password information in clear text format within the trace output files, creating a significant risk for unauthorized access to storage resources.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the TSM application's tracing mechanism. Specifically, the application fails to properly filter or mask sensitive authentication data when generating trace logs, allowing password values to be written directly to log files without encryption or obfuscation. This behavior violates fundamental security principles and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, as sensitive information is exposed beyond the intended operational boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the application level and affects the logging subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as trace files often contain extensive operational data that may be accessible to various system users or processes.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations using TSM for their storage management needs. Attackers who gain access to trace files through various means such as unauthorized system access, compromised user accounts, or inadequate file permissions can immediately extract password information without requiring additional exploitation techniques. The exposure of passwords undermines the entire authentication framework of the storage management system, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical data storage resources. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core administrative functions of the TSM system, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate storage policies, access protected data, or disrupt storage operations.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with multiple CWE categories including CWE-200 Information Exposure and CWE-532 Information Exposure Through Log Files, both of which address the improper handling of sensitive information in log outputs. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access through log file analysis and privilege escalation via compromised authentication mechanisms. Organizations may find themselves vulnerable to attacks that leverage this weakness as part of broader exploitation campaigns targeting storage management systems. The attack surface expands significantly when considering that trace files are often stored in accessible locations and may be retained for extended periods, increasing the window of opportunity for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0371 require immediate implementation of configuration controls to disable or restrict application tracing when not actively needed for debugging purposes. Organizations should implement strict access controls over trace file directories and establish automated processes to monitor and remove sensitive information from log files. The recommended approach involves disabling tracing in production environments or implementing robust output filtering mechanisms that mask sensitive data during trace generation. Additionally, system administrators should regularly audit trace file access permissions and implement centralized log management solutions that can filter out sensitive information before storage. Patch management programs should be prioritized to ensure that affected TSM versions receive appropriate security updates from IBM, which typically address the underlying logging mechanism vulnerabilities and provide improved sanitization of sensitive data in diagnostic outputs.