CVE-2016-2932 in BigFix Remote Control
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Remote Control before 9.1.3 allows remote attackers to conduct XML injection attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
IBM BigFix Remote Control version 9.1.2 and earlier contains a vulnerability that enables remote attackers to perform XML injection attacks through unspecified vectors within the system. This flaw resides in the processing of XML data within the remote control functionality, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate XML input and potentially execute unauthorized commands or access sensitive information. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of XML data received by the remote control component, allowing attackers to inject malicious XML content that can be processed by the system with elevated privileges. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the remote control functionality is designed to provide administrative access to remote systems, making this vulnerability a significant threat to enterprise environments that rely on BigFix for system management and security operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-644, which addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in XML external entity references, and potentially CWE-94, which covers inadequate control of generation of code. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted XML payloads that bypass input validation mechanisms, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or information disclosure. The vulnerability operates at the XML processing layer where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming XML data before processing it within the remote control context. This represents a classic case of insufficient input sanitization where the system does not adequately filter or escape special XML characters and entities that could alter the intended processing flow of the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation as it fundamentally compromises the security model of the BigFix Remote Control system. Organizations using affected versions face the risk of unauthorized remote access to managed systems, potential privilege escalation, and data exfiltration from critical infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where BigFix is used for security monitoring and system administration, as it could allow attackers to gain persistent access to remote endpoints. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute commands on target systems, escalate privileges, or establish backdoors within the managed environment, effectively undermining the security posture of organizations relying on BigFix for their remote management capabilities.
The remediation for this vulnerability requires immediate deployment of IBM BigFix Remote Control version 9.1.3 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms for XML processing. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the remote control functionality to trusted networks only. Additional mitigations include monitoring for suspicious XML traffic patterns, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious XML content, and conducting regular security assessments of remote management systems. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and privilege escalation, making it particularly concerning for threat actors seeking persistent access to enterprise networks. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege controls and regular patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in their environments.