CVE-2017-1198 in BigFix Compliance
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Compliance 1.7 through 1.9.91 (TEMA SUAv1 SCA SCM) stores sensitive information in URL parameters. This may lead to information disclosure if unauthorized parties have access to the URLs via server logs, referrer header or browser history. IBM X-Force ID: 123673.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1198 affects IBM BigFix Compliance versions 1.7 through 1.9.91, specifically within the TEMA SUAv1 SCA SCM components. This security flaw represents a critical information exposure issue that stems from improper handling of sensitive data within web application interfaces. The vulnerability manifests when the system incorporates confidential information directly into URL parameters during web requests, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors who may gain access to these URLs through various means including server log files, browser history, or referrer headers. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and output encoding practices that violate fundamental security principles for web application development.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the application layer where authentication tokens, user credentials, or other sensitive data elements are serialized into URL query strings rather than being properly handled through secure session management or encrypted transmission mechanisms. This design flaw creates persistent exposure points since URLs are often logged in multiple locations including web server logs, proxy server records, application server logs, and browser history caches. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-200, which categorizes information exposure issues, and represents a failure to properly implement secure coding practices that would normally prevent such data leakage through protocol-level mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, privilege escalation, and unauthorized system access. When unauthorized parties gain access to URLs containing sensitive parameters, they can reconstruct user sessions, impersonate legitimate users, or extract confidential information that may include system credentials, configuration details, or compliance data. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using IBM BigFix Compliance for security monitoring and compliance management, where the disclosed information could include audit trails, vulnerability assessments, or policy enforcement details that could be leveraged for further attacks. The risk is amplified in environments where multiple users access the system through shared or public computing environments where browser history and server logs may be accessible to unauthorized individuals.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive URL parameter validation, secure session management implementation, and thorough log review processes to identify and remove sensitive data from URL strings. The remediation approach should align with NIST SP 800-53 security controls and follow the principle of least privilege by ensuring that no sensitive information is transmitted through URL parameters. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper input sanitization, utilizing secure communication protocols such as HTTPS, and conducting regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for credential access through information disclosure, emphasizing the multi-faceted nature of the threat and the importance of layered defense strategies to protect against such exposure scenarios.