CVE-2017-1124 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.1, 7.5, and 7.6 could allow a local attacker to obtain sensitive information using HTTP Header Injection. IBM Reference #: 1998053.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2020
IBM Maximo Asset Management versions 7.1, 7.5, and 7.6 contain a vulnerability that enables local attackers to exploit HTTP header injection flaws to obtain sensitive information. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's HTTP processing mechanisms. The flaw allows an attacker with local system access to manipulate HTTP headers in ways that can reveal confidential data stored within the application's memory or session contexts. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-113 as improper neutralization of CRLF characters in HTTP headers, which represents a common injection attack vector that can lead to various downstream security issues.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Maximo application processes HTTP requests without properly validating or sanitizing header values that originate from local sources. When malicious input is passed through HTTP headers, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as command sequences or data delimiters. This allows an attacker to inject additional headers or manipulate existing ones in a manner that can expose internal application state, session identifiers, or other sensitive information that would normally remain protected. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local access to the system, making it accessible to users who already have some level of system privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain access to session tokens, database connection strings, or other credentials that would enable further compromise of the Maximo environment. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on IBM Maximo for critical asset management operations, where unauthorized access to sensitive operational data could result in significant business disruption. The local privilege requirement means that attackers typically need to have already compromised a system account or gained physical access to the server, but this still represents a serious security gap in the application's defenses.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures throughout the application's HTTP processing pipeline. Organizations should ensure that all HTTP header values are properly escaped and validated before being processed by the application. The IBM recommended fix involves updating to patched versions of Maximo that implement proper header sanitization routines and input validation controls. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit local system access, while monitoring for unusual header injection patterns in application logs. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: HTTP, and represents a common vector for information gathering activities that can precede more advanced exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review their overall security posture to ensure that local access controls are properly enforced and that the principle of least privilege is maintained across all system components.