CVE-2016-3025 in Security Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Access Manager for Mobile 8.x before 8.0.1.4 IF3 and Security Access Manager 9.x before 9.0.1.0 IF5 do not properly restrict failed login attempts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a brute-force approach.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2022
IBM Security Access Manager for Mobile versions 8.x before 8.0.1.4 IF3 and 9.x before 9.0.1.0 IF5 contain a critical security flaw that undermines authentication mechanisms through inadequate failed login attempt restrictions. This vulnerability creates a significant exposure by allowing remote attackers to systematically test credentials using brute-force techniques without effective rate limiting or account lockout mechanisms. The flaw resides in the authentication subsystem's inability to properly track and control successive failed authentication attempts, enabling attackers to exploit this weakness through automated tools that can rapidly cycle through potential username and password combinations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient session management and authentication control logic within the IBM Security Access Manager components. When users attempt to authenticate, the system fails to maintain proper counters for failed attempts or implement effective temporary account lockout procedures that would normally prevent automated attack vectors. This weakness aligns with CWE-305 Authentication Bypass Through User Identification, where the system's failure to properly enforce authentication controls creates opportunities for unauthorized access. The vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement that should be inherent in any secure authentication system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential guessing attacks, as it provides attackers with a reliable pathway to compromise user accounts and potentially gain access to sensitive enterprise resources. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to systematically target user credentials across multiple accounts, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data breaches, or unauthorized access to protected systems. The ease with which this vulnerability can be exploited makes it particularly dangerous in environments where mobile access is critical for business operations. This flaw directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1110.003 Brute Force: Password Guessing, where attackers can systematically attempt to guess passwords through automated means without detection or prevention mechanisms.
Organizations utilizing affected IBM Security Access Manager versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data compromise, particularly in scenarios where mobile access is prevalent. The vulnerability is especially concerning in environments with weak password policies or where users employ predictable password patterns, as these conditions amplify the effectiveness of brute-force attacks. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader authentication security assessment, particularly examining how different authentication mechanisms interact and whether additional controls are needed to prevent credential stuffing or other automated attack vectors. Effective mitigation requires immediate patching to the latest supported versions, implementation of additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication, and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication design and the need for comprehensive security testing of access control mechanisms before deployment in production environments.