CVE-2017-1177 in BigFix Compliance
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Compliance 1.7 through 1.9.91 discloses sensitive information to unauthorized users. The information can be used to mount further attacks on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 123429.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1177 affects IBM BigFix Compliance versions 1.7 through 1.9.91, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system data to unauthorized parties. This vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient authorization controls and can be categorized as CWE-200 - Information Exposure, which directly impacts the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad. The flaw enables attackers to gain access to potentially sensitive configuration data, user credentials, or system information that should remain protected within the compliance management environment. The vulnerability exists due to inadequate access controls and authentication mechanisms within the BigFix Compliance platform, allowing unauthenticated or improperly authenticated users to retrieve confidential information through exposed application interfaces or APIs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate user permissions and authentication status before serving sensitive data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests that bypass normal access controls, potentially gaining access to system configuration files, user account details, or other confidential information stored within the BigFix Compliance database. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can provide attackers with foundational information needed to conduct more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation, lateral movement, or targeted exploitation of other system components. The exposure of sensitive information through this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082 - System Information Discovery, as it enables adversaries to gather detailed system characteristics and configuration data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as the disclosed information can serve as a springboard for more advanced attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can use the gathered information to tailor subsequent attacks, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on BigFix Compliance for security monitoring and compliance management, creating a significant risk to their overall security posture. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and potential legal consequences if sensitive information is disclosed through this vulnerability. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the vulnerability affects multiple versions within the 1.7 to 1.9.91 range, indicating a widespread issue that would require extensive patch management across affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1177 should focus on immediate patch application from IBM, as this represents the most effective remediation approach for addressing the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the BigFix Compliance systems and apply additional authentication layers where possible. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns or attempts to retrieve sensitive information from the compliance platform. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws within the broader system architecture. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control implementation and demonstrates the necessity of following security best practices such as principle of least privilege and defense in depth. Organizations should also consider implementing additional logging and audit capabilities to track access to sensitive system information and detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security updates should be part of the overall security program to prevent similar issues from occurring in other system components.