CVE-2016-6599 in Track-It!
Summary
by MITRE
BMC Track-It! 11.4 before Hotfix 3 exposes an unauthenticated .NET remoting configuration service (ConfigurationService) on port 9010. This service contains a method that can be used to retrieve a configuration file that contains the application database name, username and password as well as the domain administrator username and password. These are encrypted with a fixed key and IV ("NumaraIT") using the DES algorithm. The domain administrator username and password can only be obtained if the Self-Service component is enabled, which is the most common scenario in enterprise deployments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-6599 represents a critical security flaw in BMC Track-It! 11.4 before Hotfix 3 that exposes sensitive authentication credentials through an unauthenticated .NET remoting service. This issue stems from the improper configuration of the ConfigurationService component which operates on port 9010 without requiring any authentication. The exposed service contains methods that allow attackers to retrieve configuration files containing database credentials and domain administrator credentials, fundamentally compromising the security posture of enterprise environments that rely on this software.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the use of weak cryptographic practices within the .NET remoting framework. The configuration service stores sensitive information using the DES encryption algorithm with a fixed key and initialization vector set to "NumaraIT", which represents a severe cryptographic weakness. This fixed encryption parameter creates a deterministic vulnerability where attackers can easily decrypt the stored credentials without requiring additional computational resources or specialized tools. The vulnerability is further exacerbated by the fact that these credentials are stored in plaintext within configuration files, making the encryption essentially meaningless. This flaw aligns with CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms and hardcoded cryptographic parameters, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for enterprise environments that deploy BMC Track-It! with the Self-Service component enabled, which is the standard deployment scenario. Attackers who discover the exposed service can directly extract database connection strings that contain the database name, username, and password, allowing them to establish database connections and potentially escalate privileges. The inclusion of domain administrator credentials when the Self-Service component is enabled creates an even more severe risk, as these credentials can be used to gain administrative access to entire domain environments. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts used for lateral movement and privilege escalation, and represents a classic case of credential exposure through insecure service configuration.
Organizations can mitigate this vulnerability through several approaches that align with established security frameworks and best practices. The primary mitigation involves applying the vendor-provided hotfix that addresses the unauthenticated access to the ConfigurationService component. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to restrict access to port 9010, ensuring that only authorized management systems can reach this service. The remediation process should include disabling the ConfigurationService component when it is not actively required for administration tasks, and implementing proper authentication controls for all remote services. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive network scanning to identify any other exposed .NET remoting services and ensure that cryptographic parameters are properly randomized rather than using hardcoded values. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following the principle of least privilege and implementing proper service hardening measures as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 security controls.