CVE-2016-2936 in BigFix Remote Control
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Remote Control before 9.1.3 uses cleartext storage for unspecified passwords, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2936 affects IBM BigFix Remote Control versions prior to 9.1.3, presenting a critical security flaw related to password storage practices. This issue manifests through the use of cleartext storage for unspecified passwords within the software's architecture, creating a significant exposure that could be exploited by local attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability resides in the fundamental data handling mechanisms of the remote control application, where password credentials are stored without adequate encryption or obfuscation measures.
The technical implementation flaw involves the application's failure to properly secure password information during storage operations, which directly violates established security principles for credential management. This cleartext storage approach means that any local user with access to the system can potentially retrieve stored passwords through various means, including direct file system access, process memory inspection, or other local exploitation techniques. The unspecified nature of the passwords suggests that this vulnerability could affect multiple credential types within the BigFix Remote Control environment, potentially including administrative credentials, authentication tokens, or other sensitive authentication data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on IBM BigFix Remote Control for system management and remote access operations. Local attackers who gain access to systems running vulnerable versions can exploit this weakness to obtain administrative credentials and potentially escalate their privileges within the managed environment. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft, as these compromised credentials could provide attackers with persistent access to remote systems, enabling long-term reconnaissance and lateral movement within network environments. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where BigFix Remote Control is used for large-scale system management, as the compromise of a single system could potentially provide access to multiple managed endpoints.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage of credentials. This weakness represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture and violates the principle of least privilege by storing authentication data in an easily accessible format. Organizations may find that this vulnerability enables attackers to bypass traditional network-based security controls, as local access often circumvents perimeter defenses. The attack surface for this vulnerability includes any local user account on systems running vulnerable versions, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where privilege escalation could lead to full system compromise.
Recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to IBM BigFix Remote Control version 9.1.3 or later, which addresses the cleartext storage issue through proper encryption mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional access controls to limit local user privileges and conduct thorough security assessments of systems running vulnerable versions. Network segmentation and monitoring of local access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive credential rotation for any systems that may have been compromised, along with implementation of proper credential management practices that align with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-63 for digital identity management. Security teams should also consider implementing additional logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to credential storage locations within the BigFix Remote Control environment, as this vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including direct file system access, process memory inspection, or other local exploitation techniques that align with ATT&CK technique T1003 for credential dumping.