CVE-2016-5963 in Security Privileged Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager (ISPIM) Virtual Appliance 2.x before 2.0.2 FP8 does not properly validate updates, which allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5963 affects IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance versions 2.x prior to 2.0.2 FP8, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's update mechanism. This issue resides within the privileged identity management framework that organizations rely upon to control and monitor access to critical systems and sensitive data. The vulnerability specifically targets the update validation process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal security controls and execute unauthorized code on the affected appliance.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation of software updates within the ISPIM Virtual Appliance environment, creating a condition where authenticated users can manipulate the update process to inject malicious code. This weakness falls under the category of insufficient validation of updates, which is categorized as CWE-497 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the update mechanism through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of update packages or tampering with the update delivery process. The authenticated nature of the attack requires an attacker to first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, the impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to full code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager for their privileged access management needs. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain complete control over the affected appliance, potentially leading to unauthorized access to privileged accounts, data exfiltration, and disruption of critical security operations. The compromised appliance could serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network, especially since privileged identity management systems often have elevated access rights and control over sensitive infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising both confidentiality and integrity, with potential availability implications if the attacker chooses to disrupt services.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch version 2.0.2 FP8 or later to address the update validation flaw. Network segmentation and monitoring of update-related traffic should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced for update operations, limiting the number of authenticated users with update privileges. Security teams should also implement continuous monitoring for unauthorized update activities and establish robust change management procedures for privileged identity management systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and execution through valid accounts, specifically covering the T1078 Valid Accounts and T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution tactics. Organizations should also consider implementing additional controls such as code signing verification and integrity checks for all update packages to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.