CVE-2016-2927 in BigFix Remote Control
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Remote Control before 9.1.3 does not properly restrict the set of available encryption algorithms, which makes it easier for remote attackers to defeat cryptographic protection mechanisms by sniffing the network and performing calculations on encrypted data.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2927 affects IBM BigFix Remote Control versions prior to 9.1.3, representing a critical weakness in the cryptographic implementation that undermines the security of remote access sessions. This flaw resides in the protocol's encryption algorithm selection process, where the system fails to adequately restrict the available cryptographic options, creating an exploitable condition that compromises the integrity of encrypted communications.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient cryptographic algorithm restrictions within the BigFix Remote Control implementation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by intercepting network traffic and analyzing the encrypted data streams. The vulnerability specifically allows adversaries to identify and exploit weak encryption algorithms that may be enabled by default, making it significantly easier to perform cryptographic analysis and potentially decrypt sensitive information transmitted during remote sessions. This issue directly relates to CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak or broken cryptographic algorithms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through network reconnaissance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates opportunities for attackers to perform advanced cryptographic attacks such as brute force calculations on weakened encryption protocols. Remote attackers with network access can sniff traffic and systematically work to break the encryption, potentially gaining unauthorized access to systems being managed through BigFix Remote Control. This weakness particularly affects organizations that rely on remote management capabilities for system administration, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of encrypted communications and could lead to unauthorized system access, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation within the managed environment.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to IBM BigFix Remote Control version 9.1.3 or later, which addresses the cryptographic algorithm restrictions. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security policies should be updated to enforce stronger cryptographic requirements, and administrators should regularly audit encryption configurations to ensure that only secure algorithms are enabled. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following industry standards such as NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and the recommendations in the OWASP Cryptographic Requirements checklist to prevent similar weaknesses in other systems.