CVE-2016-0393 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.5 before 7.5.0.10-TIV-MBS-IFIX002 and 7.6 before 7.6.0.5-TIV-MAMMT-FP001 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive URL information by reading log files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2019
IBM Maximo Asset Management version 7.5 before 7.5.0.10-TIV-MBS-IFIX002 and 7.6 before 7.6.0.5-TIV-MAMMT-FP001 contains a vulnerability that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive URL information from log files. This flaw represents a critical information disclosure issue that can compromise system security and expose confidential operational data. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of log file entries, allowing attackers to access potentially sensitive URL paths and parameters that should remain protected within the application's internal operations. The affected versions of Maximo Asset Management fail to properly filter or obscure URL components when writing to log files, creating an attack vector that can be exploited from remote locations without requiring authentication or elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's logging mechanism failing to sanitize URL parameters and paths before writing them to log files. When Maximo processes requests containing sensitive URL information, the system logs these components without proper obfuscation or filtering, creating a situation where unauthorized parties can access these log files and extract potentially sensitive information. This issue aligns with CWE-200, which defines information exposure vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how improper logging practices can lead to unintended data disclosure. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's ability to maintain confidentiality of URL information that may contain session identifiers, user credentials, or other operational parameters that should remain private.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to gather intelligence about the target system's internal structure and operational patterns. Remote attackers can use the extracted URL information to identify application endpoints, potentially discover sensitive configuration details, and map the system architecture for more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability can facilitate subsequent exploitation attempts such as path traversal attacks, session hijacking, or targeted attacks against specific application components. The exposure of URL information may also reveal internal service endpoints, database connection strings, or other operational details that could be leveraged in broader attack campaigns. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1083, which involves discovering file and directory permissions, and T1566, which covers credential access through various attack vectors.
Organizations using affected versions of IBM Maximo Asset Management should immediately implement the available patches and interim fixes provided by IBM to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation includes applying the specific IFIX patches mentioned in the CVE description, which contain fixes for the logging mechanism that prevent sensitive URL information from being written to log files. Additionally, system administrators should review existing log file access controls and implement proper file permission settings to limit access to log files containing potentially sensitive information. Organizations should also consider implementing log monitoring solutions that can detect unusual access patterns to log files and alert security teams to potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output filtering in web applications, particularly in enterprise asset management systems where operational data confidentiality is paramount. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other applications within their environment that may exhibit similar logging behavior and implement consistent security controls across all systems to prevent similar information disclosure vulnerabilities from occurring.