CVE-2016-5959 in Security Privileged Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager 2.0.2 and 2.1.0 stores sensitive information in URL parameters. This may lead to information disclosure if unauthorized parties have access to the URLs via server logs, referrer header or browser history. IBM X-Force ID: 116136.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2020
IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager versions 2.0.2 and 2.1.0 contain a critical information disclosure vulnerability where sensitive data is transmitted through URL parameters rather than secure authentication mechanisms. This flaw represents a direct violation of security best practices and creates significant exposure risks for privileged credentials and session information. The vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of sensitive data within the Uniform Resource Locator structure, where authentication tokens, user identifiers, and potentially other confidential information are embedded directly into the URL path or query strings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability places sensitive information in URL parameters where it becomes accessible through multiple attack vectors including server access logs, browser history, referrer headers, and network traffic monitoring tools. This design flaw aligns with CWE-546, which specifically addresses the presence of sensitive information in URLs, and represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and secure credential handling. The exposure occurs because URLs are often logged by web servers, proxies, and application firewalls, creating persistent records of sensitive data that can be retrieved by unauthorized parties.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations using IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to privileged accounts through simple reconnaissance techniques. The exposure of sensitive information in URLs directly enables credential stuffing attacks, session hijacking, and privilege escalation attempts. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by monitoring network traffic, accessing server logs, or leveraging browser history to extract authentication tokens and user credentials. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing and T1562.001 for defense evasion through log manipulation, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where privileged access is highly valued.
The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as this vulnerability can compromise entire privileged access management systems and potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges within the organization's security infrastructure. Organizations that rely on IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager for managing privileged accounts face significant risk of unauthorized access to critical systems, databases, and network resources. The vulnerability's persistence in server logs and browser history creates long-term exposure windows where sensitive information remains accessible even after the initial session has ended. This exposure period can last indefinitely until logs are rotated or browser history is cleared, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit the information.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate implementation of URL parameter sanitization and secure credential handling practices. Organizations must ensure that all sensitive information is transmitted through secure headers, cookies, or POST requests rather than URL parameters. The solution requires comprehensive code review and application redesign to eliminate URL-based credential transmission. Security teams should implement strict access controls for server logs, establish regular log rotation policies, and deploy network monitoring tools to detect and alert on suspicious URL patterns containing sensitive information. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to block or sanitize URL parameters containing sensitive data, and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Special Publication 800-53 for secure application development and deployment.