CVE-2016-2943 in BigFix Remote Control
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Remote Control before 9.1.3 allows local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging unspecified privileges to read a log file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2943 affects IBM BigFix Remote Control versions prior to 9.1.3, presenting a significant information disclosure risk that could compromise system security. This issue stems from inadequate privilege controls within the remote control application, allowing local attackers to access sensitive data through unauthorized file access mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically relates to the application's handling of log files that contain potentially sensitive information about system operations, user activities, and system configurations. The unspecified privileges mentioned in the description indicate that the vulnerability can be exploited by users who already have some level of access to the system, making it particularly concerning as it represents a privilege escalation or lateral movement vector within compromised environments.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's insufficient access control measures for log file operations, where the system fails to properly validate user permissions before granting read access to sensitive log files. This weakness creates an information exposure scenario that aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes improper exposure of sensitive information as a critical security flaw. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that log files typically contain detailed operational data including user credentials, system configurations, network information, and operational activities that could be leveraged by malicious actors for further exploitation. Attackers could potentially use this information to understand system architecture, identify vulnerable components, or extract credentials that might lead to more extensive system compromise.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability represents a serious threat to organizations relying on IBM BigFix Remote Control for system management and remote access operations. Local users with minimal privileges could exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive operational data, potentially exposing the organization to targeted attacks, compliance violations, and regulatory penalties. The information obtained through this vulnerability could include system administrator credentials, network configurations, user activity logs, and other operational data that would significantly aid in planning more sophisticated attacks. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires only local access to the system, making it accessible to users who may have legitimate access for administrative purposes but could misuse their privileges.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves immediate deployment of IBM BigFix Remote Control version 9.1.3 or later, which includes the necessary security patches to address the privilege escalation and information disclosure issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control policies that limit local user privileges and regularly audit system access logs to detect unauthorized file access attempts. Security administrators should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized modifications or access patterns to sensitive log files. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege management and access control implementation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their remote access and management tools to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors within their networks.