CVE-2016-8967 in BigFix Inventory
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Inventory v9 9.2 stores user credentials in plain in clear text which can be read by a local user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8967 affects IBM BigFix Inventory version 9.2 and represents a critical security flaw in credential storage practices. This issue stems from the application's improper handling of user authentication data, where sensitive credentials are persisted in plaintext format within the system's configuration files or databases. The flaw exists at the application level where authentication mechanisms fail to implement proper cryptographic protection for stored credentials, creating an inherent security weakness that directly violates established security best practices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in secure credential management within the BigFix Inventory application. When users authenticate to the system, their credentials are not encrypted or hashed before being stored, instead remaining in readable format on the local filesystem. This plaintext storage approach creates an immediate privilege escalation vector for any local user who gains access to the system, as they can simply examine the configuration files or database entries to extract valid authentication credentials. The vulnerability essentially eliminates the security boundary that should exist between different user contexts, allowing unauthorized local access to administrative credentials and potentially enabling further lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass broader security implications for enterprise environments utilizing IBM BigFix Inventory. Local users with minimal privileges can escalate their access to administrative accounts, potentially compromising entire inventory management systems and the data they contain. This flaw directly enables attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise information, including system configurations, inventory data, and potentially connected network resources. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only local system access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by malicious insiders or attackers who have already gained a foothold on the target system through other means.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure configuration practices. The flaw also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including credential access through credential dumping and privilege escalation via local account access. Organizations implementing IBM BigFix Inventory should immediately implement mitigation strategies including mandatory encryption of stored credentials, regular security audits of configuration files, and enforcement of strict file permissions on credential storage locations. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to credential storage locations and establish comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential credential compromise events. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in all application components that handle sensitive authentication data.