CVE-2016-5063 in Server Automation
Summary
by MITRE
The RSCD agent in BMC Server Automation before 8.6 SP1 Patch 2 and 8.7 before Patch 3 on Windows might allow remote attackers to bypass authorization checks and make an RPC call via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5063 affects the RSCD agent component within BMC Server Automation software, specifically impacting versions prior to 8.6 SP1 Patch 2 and 8.7 Patch 3 on Windows platforms. This represents a critical authorization bypass flaw that could enable remote attackers to execute unauthorized remote procedure calls without proper authentication. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the agent's RPC handling processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent established security controls. The affected RSCD agent serves as a core communication component responsible for managing remote server automation tasks, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments that rely heavily on automated server management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves unspecified vectors that allow attackers to manipulate the RPC call mechanisms within the RSCD agent. According to CWE classification, this scenario aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically involving improper authorization controls within remote procedure call frameworks. The flaw likely exists in the agent's authentication token validation or session management processes, potentially allowing attackers to forge or manipulate RPC requests that would normally require proper authorization. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1077.002 Remote Services and T1566.001 Phishing, as attackers could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to managed systems through the compromised automation agent. The RPC mechanism itself is designed for legitimate remote system administration, but the authorization bypass creates an unexpected attack surface that could be exploited for privilege escalation or lateral movement within network environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5063 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on target systems, potentially leading to full system compromise. Organizations utilizing BMC Server Automation for critical infrastructure management face significant risk, as the compromised RSCD agent could provide attackers with persistent access to server environments and enable them to perform privileged operations such as installing malware, modifying system configurations, or exfiltrating sensitive data. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or network credentials to leverage the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented. Additionally, the affected versions span multiple release branches, indicating that this authorization bypass represents a systemic flaw rather than an isolated incident, potentially affecting a wide range of enterprise deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5063 should prioritize immediate patch application to versions 8.6 SP1 Patch 2 and 8.7 Patch 3, which contain the necessary security fixes to address the authorization bypass vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to RSCD agent communication ports and consider disabling unnecessary RPC services when possible. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual RPC call patterns or unauthorized access attempts to the RSCD agent. The remediation process should include thorough vulnerability scanning to identify systems running affected versions and implementation of network access controls to restrict communication to only trusted sources. According to industry best practices and NIST guidelines for vulnerability management, organizations should conduct comprehensive risk assessments to determine the potential impact of this vulnerability on their specific environments and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers or using secure communication protocols to further protect against similar authorization bypass scenarios in their automation infrastructure.