CVE-2016-5757 in Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
iManager Admin Console in NetIQ Access Manager 4.1 before 4.1.2 Hot Fix 1 and 4.2 before 4.2.2 was vulnerable to iFrame manipulation attacks, which could allow remote users to gain access to authentication credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5757 affects the iManager Admin Console component of NetIQ Access Manager versions prior to 4.1.2 Hot Fix 1 and 4.2.2. This security flaw represents a critical concern for organizations relying on NetIQ's identity and access management solutions, as it exposes the administrative interface to sophisticated attack vectors that could compromise sensitive authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically relates to improper handling of iFrame content within the web-based administration console, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate the user interface and potentially capture authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the iManager Admin Console's web interface. When users interact with the console, the application fails to properly sanitize iFrame source parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious content that can manipulate the browser's rendering context. This flaw enables what is known as a cross-frame scripting attack, where an attacker can embed a malicious iFrame within the administrative interface, potentially capturing user credentials or session tokens. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and specifically relates to the broader category of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that have been extensively documented in the security community.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the NetIQ Access Manager environment. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to modify user access controls, manipulate authentication policies, or gain unauthorized access to protected resources within the organization's identity infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the network or administrative credentials to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with remote administrative access capabilities. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where NetIQ Access Manager is used for enterprise identity management, potentially compromising the entire authentication ecosystem.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided hot fixes for NetIQ Access Manager 4.1.2 Hot Fix 1 and 4.2.2, which address the iFrame manipulation vulnerabilities through proper input validation and output encoding. Security administrators should also consider implementing network-level controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious iFrame injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security risks and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their identity management infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components that may be susceptible to cross-frame scripting attacks, particularly those involving web-based administrative interfaces that handle sensitive authentication data. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1566, which covers credential harvesting through various attack vectors including web-based exploitation techniques that target administrative interfaces.