CVE-2016-2966 in Sametime
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sametime 8.5.1 and 9.0 could allow an authenticated user to enumerate meeting rooms by guessing the meeting room id. IBM X-Force ID: 113847.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2021
IBM Sametime 8.5.1 and 9.0 versions contain a significant information disclosure vulnerability that allows authenticated users to enumerate meeting rooms through predictable id guessing techniques. This vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient entropy in identifiers as classified by CWE-330, where the meeting room identifiers lack sufficient randomness to prevent systematic enumeration attacks. The flaw enables attackers who have valid authentication credentials to systematically guess or brute force meeting room IDs, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive meeting information and resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the predictable nature of meeting room identifier generation within the Sametime platform. When users create or join meeting rooms, the system assigns identifiers that follow discernible patterns or use insufficient randomness, making it feasible for authenticated users to enumerate valid room IDs through systematic guessing. This weakness directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the collaboration platform, as unauthorized access to meeting room information could lead to information disclosure, unauthorized meeting participation, and potential data interception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information enumeration, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks within the Sametime environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to identify active meetings, gather intelligence about organizational meeting schedules, and potentially target specific users or departments. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise collaboration security, particularly in environments where sensitive business discussions occur within Sametime meeting rooms. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when attackers attempt to map network resources and gather intelligence about collaboration infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including strengthening meeting room ID generation algorithms to ensure sufficient randomness and entropy. The recommended approach involves updating to patched versions of IBM Sametime 8.5.1 and 9.0, which address the predictable identifier generation issue. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring mechanisms can help detect unauthorized enumeration attempts. Network segmentation and logging of meeting room access attempts should be configured to provide visibility into potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper identifier generation practices and aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-63B for digital identity management. The issue also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of collaboration platforms to identify information disclosure vulnerabilities that could compromise enterprise security posture.