CVE-2016-2948 in BigFix Remote Control
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Remote Control before 9.1.3 allows local users to discover hardcoded credentials via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2948 affects IBM BigFix Remote Control versions prior to 9.1.3, representing a critical security flaw that exposes hardcoded credentials to local attackers. This issue falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities, specifically concerning credential exposure within enterprise management software. The vulnerability exists due to improper handling of authentication credentials within the software's configuration files or executable components, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by adversaries with local system access. IBM BigFix Remote Control is widely deployed for enterprise endpoint management and remote system administration, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on the platform for critical infrastructure management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the presence of hardcoded credentials within the application's codebase or configuration files, which are accessible to local users through various unspecified vectors. These vectors typically include file system access, process inspection, or memory dumping techniques that allow local adversaries to extract sensitive authentication information. The hardcoded credentials may include administrative passwords, API keys, or service account credentials that provide elevated privileges within the BigFix environment. This flaw represents a violation of security best practices and directly contravenes principles outlined in CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hardcoded credentials in software applications. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that local access is often easier to obtain than remote access, making it a particularly attractive target for attackers who have already gained a foothold within the network.
From an operational standpoint, the exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to significant security consequences for affected organizations. Local attackers who successfully extract the hardcoded credentials can gain unauthorized access to the BigFix management console, potentially enabling them to manipulate endpoint configurations, deploy malicious payloads, or exfiltrate sensitive data from managed systems. The attack surface extends beyond simple credential theft, as these credentials may provide access to multiple systems within the enterprise environment where BigFix is deployed. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers "Unsecured Credentials" and represents a common vector for privilege escalation and lateral movement within enterprise networks. The impact is particularly severe for organizations that rely heavily on BigFix for critical system management and monitoring operations, as the compromise of these credentials can effectively provide attackers with administrative control over the entire endpoint management infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by upgrading to IBM BigFix Remote Control version 9.1.3 or later, which contains patches specifically designed to eliminate the hardcoded credential exposure. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of their BigFix installations to identify and remove any hardcoded credentials that may still exist in legacy configurations or custom scripts. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict file system access controls to limit local user privileges, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files, and conducting regular security assessments of endpoint management systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper credential management practices and highlights the necessity of following security guidelines such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53, which emphasizes the need for secure configuration management and access control mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and privilege separation techniques to limit the potential impact of credential compromise, ensuring that even if local credentials are exposed, attackers cannot easily escalate privileges or move laterally within the network infrastructure.