CVE-2017-1182 in Tivoli Monitoring Portal
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Monitoring Portal v6 could allow a local (network adjacent) attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the system, when default client-server default communications, HTTP, are being used. IBM X-Force ID: 123493.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1182 affects IBM Tivoli Monitoring Portal version 6, representing a critical security flaw that enables local attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. This vulnerability specifically manifests when default client-server communications over HTTP are utilized, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized system access. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within the monitoring portal's communication protocols, allowing malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service account.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of insecure communication channels that lack proper authentication mechanisms and input sanitization. When default HTTP communications are employed, the system fails to adequately validate or sanitize data received from clients, creating opportunities for command injection attacks. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable system, result in arbitrary code execution. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-89 categories, where insufficient input validation leads to unauthorized command execution. The attack requires minimal privileges as the vulnerability exists within the communication layer itself, making it particularly dangerous for environments where default configurations are maintained.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data. Organizations utilizing IBM Tivoli Monitoring Portal v6 with default HTTP configurations face significant risk of data breaches, system infiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects systems where the monitoring portal serves as a central point for system monitoring and management, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access to critical infrastructure. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, providing a pathway for attackers to establish footholds within monitored environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1182 require immediate implementation of several security controls to protect affected systems. Organizations should disable default HTTP communications and implement secure communication protocols such as HTTPS with proper certificate validation. The system configuration must enforce strict input validation and sanitization for all data received from clients, preventing malicious payloads from being processed. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized systems can communicate with the monitoring portal. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that default configurations have been properly updated and that all systems are running patched versions of the software. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular patch management processes to address similar vulnerabilities in other IBM products. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure configuration management and highlights how default insecure settings can create significant security risks in enterprise monitoring systems.