CVE-2016-3034 in AppScan Source
Summary
by MITRE
IBM AppScan Source uses a one-way hash without salt to encrypt highly sensitive information, which could allow a local attacker to decrypt information more easily.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2020
IBM AppScan Source vulnerability CVE-2016-3034 represents a critical cryptographic weakness that undermines the security of sensitive data protection mechanisms. The flaw resides in the application's implementation of one-way hash functions without proper salting mechanisms, creating a fundamental weakness in the encryption architecture that directly impacts data confidentiality and integrity. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of cryptographic implementation failures as classified by CWE-327, specifically addressing the absence of proper salt in hash functions. The vulnerability affects IBM AppScan Source versions prior to 9.0.3.1, where the system employs a deterministic hashing approach that lacks the essential randomness components required for secure cryptographic operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to incorporate salt values into its hashing algorithms when processing sensitive information. Salt values serve as random data elements that are combined with passwords or sensitive data before hashing to prevent attacks such as rainbow table attacks and precomputed hash lookups. Without salt, identical inputs produce identical hash outputs, making it significantly easier for attackers to reverse-engineer encrypted data through pattern recognition and lookup tables. This weakness directly violates established cryptographic best practices and security standards that mandate the use of salt in hash functions to ensure uniqueness and prevent predictable output patterns. The vulnerability creates a direct pathway for local attackers to exploit the deterministic nature of the unsalted hash implementation, potentially compromising the confidentiality of sensitive data stored within the application.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3034 extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass broader security implications for organizations relying on IBM AppScan Source for application security assessments. Local attackers with access to the system can leverage this vulnerability to decrypt sensitive information that should remain protected, including but not limited to authentication credentials, configuration data, and security-related parameters. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple attack scenarios, including those aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's credential access and defense evasion tactics. The vulnerability's local attack requirement reduces the complexity of exploitation while simultaneously increasing the potential damage, as attackers who gain local system access can immediately leverage this weakness to escalate their privileges and access additional sensitive resources. Organizations utilizing this security scanning tool face heightened risk of data breaches and compliance violations, particularly in regulated environments where cryptographic controls are mandated.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3034 require immediate remediation through the application of IBM's official security patches and updates. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to IBM AppScan Source version 9.0.3.1 or later, which incorporates proper salted hash implementations that address the cryptographic weakness. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other applications or systems employing similar unsalted hash implementations. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the updated cryptographic implementations function correctly without disrupting existing security scanning operations. Organizations should also implement monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response protocols specifically addressing cryptographic vulnerabilities. Compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-132 and ISO/IEC 15408 provides framework guidance for proper cryptographic implementation practices that prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other security tools and applications. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar cryptographic weaknesses across the entire application portfolio, ensuring adherence to established security frameworks and maintaining robust protection against evolving threat landscapes.