CVE-2016-2940 in BigFix Remote Control
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in IBM BigFix Remote Control before 9.1.3 allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
IBM BigFix Remote Control version 9.1.2 and earlier contains multiple unspecified vulnerabilities that create opportunities for remote attackers to access sensitive information. These vulnerabilities exist within the remote control functionality of the BigFix platform, which is designed to provide remote management capabilities for enterprise environments. The unspecified nature of these vulnerabilities suggests that they may involve various attack vectors or exploitation techniques that were not fully disclosed in the initial CVE description. The affected versions represent a critical security gap where unauthorized parties could potentially leverage these weaknesses to extract confidential data from systems that are supposed to be protected by the BigFix Remote Control infrastructure. This vulnerability affects organizations that rely on IBM BigFix for remote system management and monitoring, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the remote control capabilities.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified attack vectors that enable remote information disclosure, representing a significant compromise to the confidentiality and integrity of enterprise systems. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability could fall under categories such as CWE-200 Information Exposure or CWE-284 Improper Access Control, depending on the specific implementation details of the information disclosure mechanism. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it involves remote exploitation capabilities that do not require local access or authentication, allowing attackers to potentially gather sensitive information from systems without direct interaction with the target environment. The vulnerability affects the core remote control functionality that enables administrators to manage endpoints, which creates a potential pathway for attackers to escalate their access and gather additional information about the network infrastructure, system configurations, or user data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for enterprise security posture, as it allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information without requiring privileged access or complex exploitation techniques. Organizations using IBM BigFix Remote Control in their security infrastructure face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to system configurations, and exposure of critical enterprise data. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can potentially exploit it from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that depend on remote management capabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under techniques such as T1005 Data from Local System or T1041 Exfiltration Over C2 Channel, depending on how the information is extracted and transmitted. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it may enable further attacks or provide attackers with intelligence for more sophisticated exploitation attempts.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to IBM BigFix Remote Control version 9.1.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address these unspecified vulnerabilities. Security teams should also conduct thorough assessments of their BigFix infrastructure to identify any potential exploitation attempts or unauthorized access that may have occurred. Network segmentation and monitoring of BigFix communication channels can help detect abnormal access patterns or data exfiltration attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their remote access policies and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to BigFix management interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of enterprise management tools. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting remote control systems, particularly in environments where such tools are widely deployed across enterprise networks.