CVE-2017-1143 in Kenexa LCMS Premier on Cloud
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Kenexa LCMS Premier on Cloud 9.x and 10.0 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by the failure to properly enable HTTP Strict Transport Security. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to obtain sensitive information using man in the middle techniques. IBM Reference #: 1998874.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2020
This vulnerability resides in IBM Kenexa LCMS Premier on Cloud versions 9.x and 10.0, where the application fails to properly implement HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) mechanisms. The absence of proper HSTS configuration creates a critical security gap that enables man-in-the-middle attacks, allowing remote adversaries to intercept and obtain sensitive information transmitted between clients and the server. The vulnerability stems from the application's insufficient enforcement of secure communication channels, which violates fundamental web security principles. Without HSTS, the system cannot guarantee that all communications occur over encrypted HTTPS connections, leaving user data and session information exposed to potential interception. This weakness directly relates to CWE-311, which addresses the absence of encryption of sensitive data, and represents a significant deviation from industry best practices for web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the communication channel. Attackers can exploit this weakness by positioning themselves between the user and the application server to perform session hijacking, credential theft, or data manipulation. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system or network, making it particularly dangerous in cloud environments where multiple users interact with the application. The specific nature of the flaw allows for the exploitation of the SSL/TLS handshake process, potentially enabling attackers to downgrade connections to insecure HTTP protocols or capture session cookies that would otherwise be protected. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential access through man-in-the-middle attacks.
Organizations utilizing IBM Kenexa LCMS Premier on Cloud must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including proper configuration of HTTP Strict Transport Security headers with appropriate max-age values and includeSubDomains directives. The implementation should ensure that all responses include the Strict-Transport-Security header with a sufficiently long expiration period to prevent protocol downgrade attacks. Additional protective measures include enforcing mandatory HTTPS usage throughout the application, implementing proper certificate management protocols, and conducting regular security assessments to verify the effectiveness of the HSTS implementation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional network-level protections such as SSL/TLS inspection capabilities and monitoring for protocol downgrade attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a medium to high severity issue necessitates prompt remediation, as it represents a fundamental weakness in the application's security posture that could lead to significant data breaches and compliance violations. Regular security audits and adherence to security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future implementations.