CVE-2016-8951 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Emptoris Strategic Supply Management Platform 10.0.0.x through 10.1.1.x is vulnerable to a denial of service attack. An attacker can exploit a vulnerability in the authentication features that could log out users and flood user accounts with emails. IBM X-Force ID: 118838.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8951 affects IBM Emptoris Strategic Supply Management Platform versions 10.0.0.x through 10.1.1.x, representing a significant security weakness that undermines the platform's authentication mechanisms. This denial of service vulnerability specifically targets the user authentication system, creating conditions where legitimate users may be forcibly logged out of the system while simultaneously generating excessive email notifications that flood user accounts. The attack vector exploits inherent flaws in how the platform handles authentication events, particularly when multiple failed authentication attempts occur within a short timeframe. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of authentication bypass or session management weaknesses that can severely impact system availability and user experience. The affected platform serves as a critical component for supply chain management, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on strategic procurement processes.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of authentication failures within the platform's session management system. When an attacker performs multiple rapid authentication attempts, the system fails to properly rate-limit or throttle these requests, leading to cascading effects that trigger user logouts and generate excessive email notifications. This behavior represents a classic denial of service scenario where legitimate users experience service disruption while the system becomes overwhelmed with authentication-related traffic. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the platform's role in business-critical supply chain operations, where user availability and system reliability are paramount. The authentication subsystem likely lacks adequate protections against brute force attacks or excessive request patterns, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system's response mechanisms to create service disruption conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption to encompass broader business continuity concerns for organizations utilizing the Emptoris platform. When users are forcibly logged out during active procurement processes, it creates immediate workflow disruptions that can delay purchasing decisions and supplier communications. The email flooding aspect compounds the problem by potentially overwhelming user mailboxes and system email infrastructure, leading to additional resource consumption and potential email delivery failures. Organizations may experience reduced productivity as users struggle to regain access to the system while dealing with excessive notification volumes. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprises that depend on continuous access to procurement systems for their supply chain operations, where even brief service interruptions can result in significant operational and financial consequences.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8951 should focus on implementing robust authentication controls and rate-limiting mechanisms to prevent exploitation of the vulnerability. Organizations should configure the platform to enforce stricter authentication policies including account lockout mechanisms, adaptive authentication controls, and proper request throttling to prevent excessive authentication attempts from overwhelming the system. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems and access control lists can help monitor and restrict suspicious authentication patterns. IBM recommends applying the latest security patches and updates to address the vulnerability at the platform level, while organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual authentication activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include reviewing and strengthening session management policies, implementing proper logging and alerting for authentication events, and ensuring that system administrators can quickly identify and respond to potential abuse of the authentication system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-307 and ATT&CK techniques related to credential stuffing and authentication bypass, emphasizing the need for comprehensive authentication security measures across the platform infrastructure.