CVE-2016-5970 in Security Privileged Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager (ISPIM) Virtual Appliance 2.x before 2.0.2 FP8 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in a URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5970 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance version 2.x prior to 2.0.2 FP8. This weakness enables remote authenticated attackers to access arbitrary files on the system by exploiting improper input validation in URL handling mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input containing directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot) characters in Uniform Resource Locators.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from insufficient validation of file paths within the web application interface of the ISPIM appliance. When authenticated users submit requests containing directory traversal sequences in URLs, the application processes these inputs without proper sanitization or path resolution checks. This allows attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and access sensitive files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship established with authenticated users, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only legitimate authentication credentials to exploit.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager appliances. Attackers who can authenticate to the system gain the ability to read arbitrary files, potentially including configuration files, database contents, credential stores, and other sensitive information. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as these files may contain administrative credentials, encryption keys, or system configurations that could facilitate further exploitation. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of privileged identity management operations, potentially compromising the security posture of entire privileged access management environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 Valid Accounts for lateral movement and T1566 Phishing for credential access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch version 2.0.2 FP8, implementing web application firewalls with path traversal detection capabilities, and conducting thorough security assessments of the affected appliance. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the attack surface, while regular monitoring of authentication logs can help detect anomalous access patterns. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing input validation mechanisms and restricting file access permissions to prevent unauthorized file system access. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure the patch does not disrupt legitimate operational functions while effectively closing the directory traversal exploit vector.