CVE-2016-6093 in Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager does not require that users should have strong passwords by default, which makes it easier for attackers to compromise user accounts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2020
IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager suffers from a critical weakness in its default password policy implementation that creates significant security vulnerabilities for organizations relying on this key management solution. The vulnerability stems from the software's failure to enforce strong password requirements by default, allowing users to create accounts with weak credentials that can be easily compromised through automated attacks. This issue represents a fundamental failure in authentication security controls that directly violates industry best practices for access control management. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-521 Weak Password Requirements, which specifically addresses insufficient password strength policies that make systems susceptible to brute force and credential stuffing attacks. From an operational perspective, this weakness creates an attack surface that aligns with multiple tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1110 Credential Access, particularly T1110.001 Brute Force and T1110.003 Password Spraying, as attackers can systematically target weak passwords to gain unauthorized access to key management systems. The impact extends beyond simple account compromise since Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager handles cryptographic key management operations that are critical to enterprise security infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive cryptographic materials. Organizations using this software face heightened risk of privilege escalation attacks where weak passwords serve as the initial foothold for more sophisticated compromise attempts. The default configuration of the system fails to implement minimum password complexity requirements including length, character variety, and resistance to dictionary attacks, creating a persistent security gap that requires manual administrative intervention to correct. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because key management systems represent critical infrastructure components that should enforce the strongest possible authentication controls, yet this software defaults to permissive password policies that contradict security baseline requirements established by NIST SP 800-63B and other cryptographic security standards. The weakness creates a persistent vector for attackers to exploit through automated credential testing tools, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the software operates without additional security hardening measures. Security administrators must manually configure password policies to enforce minimum complexity requirements, but this remediation process creates a window of vulnerability during which the system remains exposed to credential-based attacks. The default insecure configuration violates fundamental security principles of defense in depth, as it fails to implement basic access control measures that should be automatically enabled to protect against common attack vectors. Organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring controls and access restrictions to compensate for this default weakness, but such compensating controls only partially mitigate the underlying vulnerability. The remediation process requires administrative expertise and careful configuration management to ensure that password policies are properly enforced across all user accounts and system components that interact with the key lifecycle management system. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure default configurations in enterprise security software, as insecure defaults can undermine even the most carefully planned security architectures and leave organizations vulnerable to attacks that could have been prevented through proper initial configuration. The issue highlights the necessity of regular security assessments and configuration reviews to identify and remediate such default security weaknesses that can persist across multiple system deployments and organizational environments.