CVE-2016-8954 in dashDB
Summary
by MITRE
IBM dashDB Local uses hard-coded credentials that could allow a remote attacker to gain access to the Docker container or database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8954 affects IBM dashDB Local, a database management system that leverages Docker containerization for deployment. This flaw represents a critical security weakness where the system employs hard-coded credentials that remain unchanged throughout the operational lifecycle. The vulnerability stems from poor security practices in credential management, where default passwords and authentication tokens are embedded directly within the application code or configuration files rather than being dynamically generated or securely stored. Such hard-coded credentials create a persistent attack surface that remains exploitable regardless of system updates or security patches.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the use of default authentication mechanisms that are not properly secured or randomized during the initial setup process. When IBM dashDB Local initializes its Docker containers, it typically relies on pre-configured user accounts with known passwords that are hardcoded in the system configuration. These credentials are often stored in plain text within configuration files or embedded within the application binaries, making them easily discoverable through routine system analysis or reverse engineering. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit this predictable authentication mechanism to gain unauthorized access to both the Docker container environment and the underlying database management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized manipulation of database contents. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands within the Docker container, potentially leading to privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The compromised container environment may allow attackers to access sensitive data stored in the dashDB database, modify database configurations, or even use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks against other network resources. Additionally, since dashDB Local is designed for enterprise deployments, the compromise of such a system can result in significant business disruption and regulatory compliance violations.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including the replacement of all hard-coded credentials with dynamically generated authentication tokens, proper credential rotation policies, and enhanced access controls. Organizations must conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify all instances of hard-coded credentials within their dashDB Local deployments and replace them with secure authentication mechanisms. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls, network segmentation, and monitoring solutions can help detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.1.001 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that no hard-coded credentials remain in production systems, and automated tools should be deployed to continuously monitor for such security misconfigurations across the enterprise infrastructure.