CVE-2017-1221 in Tivoli Endpoint Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager (IBM BigFix 9.2 and 9.5) does not require that users should have strong passwords by default, which makes it easier for attackers to compromise user accounts. IBM X-Force ID: 123861.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2021
IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager represents a critical security vulnerability in the form of weak default password policies that could enable unauthorized access to enterprise endpoints. This vulnerability affects IBM BigFix versions 9.2 and 9.5, which are widely deployed for endpoint management and security operations across enterprise environments. The flaw stems from the system's failure to enforce strong password requirements by default, creating an exploitable condition that significantly weakens the overall security posture of managed endpoints.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the absence of mandatory password strength controls within the default configuration of IBM BigFix management console. This configuration allows users to create accounts with weak passwords that may consist of easily guessable combinations, single words, or simple numeric sequences. According to CWE-521 Weak Password Requirements, this weakness directly enables credential stuffing attacks, brute force attempts, and password spraying techniques that adversaries commonly employ to compromise user accounts. The vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and authentication strength enforcement that should be inherent in enterprise security management platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual account compromise to potentially enable broader system infiltration and lateral movement within enterprise networks. When attackers successfully exploit weak password defaults, they can gain administrative access to the BigFix management console, which provides control over thousands of managed endpoints. This access allows for privilege escalation, data exfiltration, system modification, and the deployment of malicious payloads across the entire managed infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 Credential Stuffing, where attackers leverage compromised credentials to gain access to additional systems. Organizations using this management platform face significant risk of unauthorized access to their endpoint security infrastructure, potentially exposing sensitive data and disrupting business operations.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of strong password policies within the IBM BigFix configuration. Organizations must enforce password complexity requirements including minimum length of at least 12 characters, requirement for mixed case letters, numeric characters, and special symbols. The system should implement account lockout mechanisms after failed authentication attempts and enforce regular password rotation policies. Additionally, multi-factor authentication should be enabled where possible, and regular security audits should verify that password policies are properly enforced. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of default security configurations in enterprise management platforms, as highlighted in NIST SP 800-53 security controls that mandate authentication and access control measures. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious authentication patterns and ensure that the default weak password settings are not inadvertently reverted during system updates or maintenance operations.