CVE-2016-6116 in Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager 2.5 and 2.6 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by the failure to properly enable HTTP Strict Transport Security. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to obtain sensitive information using man in the middle techniques.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2017
IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager version 2.5 and 2.6 contains a critical security flaw that exposes systems to man-in-the-middle attacks through improper implementation of HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient transport layer protection as defined by CWE-319, where the application fails to enforce secure communication channels between clients and servers. The absence of proper HSTS configuration creates an attack surface that allows malicious actors to intercept and manipulate sensitive data transmitted over HTTP connections.
The technical flaw manifests when the application does not properly implement HSTS headers in its HTTP responses, leaving the system vulnerable to protocol downgrade attacks and session hijacking attempts. Attackers can exploit this weakness by positioning themselves between the client and server to perform man-in-the-middle operations, potentially capturing authentication credentials, encryption keys, and other sensitive information exchanged during the key lifecycle management processes. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of cryptographic operations within the key management infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it compromises the fundamental security posture of key management operations. Organizations using IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager in production environments face significant risk of credential theft, unauthorized access to cryptographic keys, and potential compromise of entire encryption domains. The vulnerability affects the trust model of the application, undermining the security assurances that key lifecycle management systems are designed to provide. Attackers can leverage this weakness to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive cryptographic materials that should remain protected.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper HSTS header configurations with appropriate preload directives, ensuring that all HTTP traffic is redirected to HTTPS endpoints with strong encryption protocols. Organizations must also implement certificate pinning mechanisms and regularly audit their SSL/TLS configurations to prevent protocol downgrade attacks. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1046, network service scanning and T1566, credential harvesting through man-in-the-middle attacks, this vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to establish persistent access and escalate privileges within the key management infrastructure. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining secure communication protocols and proper configuration management practices as outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure key management systems.