CVE-2016-5972 in Security Privileged Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager (ISPIM) Virtual Appliance 2.x before 2.0.2 FP8 uses weak permissions for unspecified resources, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information or modify data via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5972 affects IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance version 2.x before 2.0.2 FP8, representing a critical security flaw in privileged access management infrastructure. This vulnerability resides within the virtual appliance implementation that governs privileged identity management operations, where improper permission settings for unspecified resources create exploitable conditions for remote authenticated attackers. The weakness manifests through inadequate access controls that permit unauthorized data manipulation and information disclosure, fundamentally compromising the security posture of privileged access environments. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in privileged identity management systems where administrative controls and sensitive credentials are handled, as they directly undermine the principle of least privilege and access control mechanisms that are essential for protecting high-value assets.
The technical implementation flaw stems from weak permissions assigned to unspecified resources within the ISPIM virtual appliance architecture, creating potential attack vectors that allow remote authenticated users to exploit these misconfigurations. This vulnerability operates at the privilege management layer where administrative functions and sensitive data handling occur, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on proper access controls for their privileged accounts. The unspecified nature of the affected resources suggests that multiple components within the virtual appliance may be vulnerable, potentially including configuration files, administrative interfaces, or data storage mechanisms that control privileged access operations. The weakness enables attackers with valid authentication credentials to escalate their privileges or access sensitive information that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly undermines the security controls that organizations depend upon for protecting privileged accounts and sensitive systems. Remote authenticated attackers can exploit this weakness to obtain confidential information or modify critical data, potentially leading to unauthorized access to privileged accounts, data breaches, or system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations that deploy the ISPIM virtual appliance for managing privileged access, particularly those in regulated environments where strict access controls are required. The operational risk extends beyond immediate data compromise to include potential long-term security degradation, as attackers may use this vulnerability to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the privileged identity management infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance 2.0.2 FP8 or later versions that address this vulnerability, while also conducting comprehensive security assessments of their privileged access environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper permissions and access control issues in software systems, and represents a significant deviation from security best practices in access control implementation. Organizations should also review their access control policies and conduct regular security audits to ensure proper permissions are enforced across all privileged access management systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access tactics, highlighting the importance of maintaining proper access controls and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against such exploitation vectors. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.