CVE-2016-8962 in BigFix Inventory
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Inventory 9.2 does not require that users should have strong passwords by default, which makes it easier for attackers to compromise user accounts. IBM X-Force ID: 118851.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8962 affects IBM BigFix Inventory version 9.2, specifically addressing weak password requirements within the authentication framework. This issue represents a significant security weakness that directly impacts the system's ability to protect user credentials from unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability stems from the software's default configuration which fails to enforce strong password policies, creating an exploitable condition that adversaries can leverage to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The absence of mandatory strong password requirements fundamentally undermines the authentication security model of the platform.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability manifests as a missing enforcement mechanism for password strength criteria within the IBM BigFix Inventory system. The software does not implement default checks for password complexity including minimum length requirements, character variety, or resistance to common attack patterns such as dictionary word usage or sequential character patterns. This weakness aligns with CWE-521 Weak Password Requirements, which specifically addresses the failure to enforce adequate password strength controls. The vulnerability creates a persistent security gap where users can maintain accounts with easily guessable or brute-forceable passwords, significantly reducing the effective security posture of the entire system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential compromise to potentially enable broader system infiltration and data exfiltration. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform credential stuffing attacks, brute-force password attempts, or leverage stolen credentials from other sources to gain access to the BigFix Inventory system. Once compromised, attackers can potentially access sensitive inventory data, modify system configurations, or use the compromised accounts as stepping stones for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where BigFix Inventory is used for asset management and compliance monitoring, making it a valuable target for adversaries seeking to compromise critical infrastructure.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including manual configuration of strong password policies, enforcement of minimum password length requirements, and implementation of password complexity rules. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive password audits to identify and reset any accounts that may have been compromised due to weak password defaults. The mitigation strategy should align with industry best practices outlined in NIST Special Publication 800-63B and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for Brute Force Attacks. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that password policies are properly enforced and that no other authentication weaknesses exist within the system. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of default security configurations and the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that do not rely solely on user awareness for security enforcement.