CVE-2016-9977 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.1, 7.5, and 7.6 could allow a remote attacker to hijack a user's session, caused by the failure to invalidate an existing session identifier. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain access to another user's session. IBM X-Force ID: 120253.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2020
This vulnerability affects IBM Maximo Asset Management versions 7.1, 7.5, and 7.6, representing a critical session management flaw that enables remote session hijacking attacks. The core technical issue stems from the application's failure to properly invalidate existing session identifiers when users authenticate or when sessions are terminated. This weakness creates a persistent security gap where an attacker can exploit the system's inability to properly manage session lifecycle events, potentially allowing unauthorized access to user sessions without requiring additional authentication credentials.
The vulnerability operates through a session fixation pattern where an attacker can capture a valid session token and reuse it to impersonate legitimate users within the Maximo environment. This flaw directly relates to CWE-384, which addresses session management weaknesses and the improper handling of session identifiers. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no privileged access or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to attackers with basic network reconnaissance capabilities. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data manipulation, system compromise, and unauthorized administrative actions within the Maximo asset management platform.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Maximo for critical asset management functions. The session hijacking capability could enable attackers to access sensitive operational data, modify asset records, or perform administrative tasks that could disrupt business operations and compromise asset integrity. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.002, which covers privilege escalation through session hijacking, and T1078.004, covering valid accounts through compromised credentials. Organizations using these Maximo versions face potential exposure to unauthorized access to critical infrastructure data, including maintenance schedules, asset histories, and operational metrics that could impact business continuity and regulatory compliance.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper session invalidation mechanisms upon user logout and authentication events, ensuring that session identifiers are regenerated with each new login attempt. Organizations should also deploy additional security controls including session timeout configurations, secure session cookie attributes, and network-level monitoring to detect suspicious session activity. The recommended approach includes applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing robust session management policies, and establishing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security assessments should verify that session management controls are properly implemented and functioning as intended, with particular attention to ensuring that session identifiers are properly invalidated and that the system enforces secure session handling practices across all user authentication flows.