CVE-2016-2976 in Sametime Meeting Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sametime Meeting Server 8.5.2 and 9.0 could allow a meeting invitee to obtain previously cleared sensitive information by viewing the meeting report history. IBM X-Force ID: 113936.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2976 affects IBM Sametime Meeting Server versions 8.5.2 and 9.0, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the confidentiality of meeting data. This vulnerability specifically impacts the meeting report history functionality, where previously cleared sensitive information can be retrieved by meeting invitees who should not have access to such data. The issue stems from inadequate access controls and data sanitization mechanisms within the meeting server's reporting system, creating a persistent security gap that allows unauthorized data recovery.
The technical implementation flaw involves the improper handling of meeting report data persistence and access permissions within the Sametime Meeting Server architecture. When meetings are conducted and subsequently cleared from active memory or temporary storage, the system fails to completely remove sensitive information from historical report databases. This creates a scenario where authenticated meeting participants can exploit the reporting functionality to access previously deleted or cleared meeting data, potentially including confidential communications, participant details, or proprietary information discussed during meetings. The vulnerability manifests through the meeting report history feature that maintains records of past meetings and their associated data, which should have been properly sanitized but remains accessible to authorized users.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on IBM Sametime for secure collaboration and communication. The exposure of previously cleared sensitive information can lead to data breaches, compliance violations, and potential legal consequences, particularly in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, or government sectors where meeting confidentiality is paramount. Attackers or malicious insiders with legitimate meeting access can exploit this weakness to reconstruct sensitive meeting content, undermining the trust placed in the collaboration platform and potentially compromising ongoing business operations, competitive intelligence, or personal privacy of meeting participants.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates, reviewing and strengthening access controls for meeting report functionality, and implementing additional data sanitization procedures. Network segmentation and monitoring of meeting server access patterns can help detect anomalous behavior related to report history access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, Information Exposure, and represents a specific instance of inadequate data sanitization and access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS and potentially T1566 Credential Access through the exploitation of legitimate access privileges, emphasizing the importance of principle of least privilege and proper access controls in collaborative environments.