CVE-2017-1229 in Tivoli Endpoint Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager (IBM BigFix 9.2 and 9.5) 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 X-Force ID: 123908.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2021
IBM Tivoli Endpoint Manager version 9.2 and 9.5 contains a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of secure communications through improper implementation of HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) mechanisms. This vulnerability creates an exploitable condition where remote attackers can intercept and manipulate network traffic between clients and the management server, potentially accessing sensitive endpoint data and configuration information.
The technical root cause stems from the absence of proper HSTS header implementation in the web server responses, which should enforce secure HTTPS connections and prevent downgrade attacks. Without HSTS, attackers can leverage man-in-the-middle techniques to intercept communications and potentially access administrative credentials, endpoint inventory data, and other sensitive information. This weakness aligns with CWE-319 - Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information and represents a significant failure in secure communication channel establishment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access to endpoint management infrastructure. Organizations relying on IBM BigFix for security operations and endpoint monitoring face heightened risk of unauthorized access to critical system information, potentially leading to broader network compromise. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct reconnaissance activities, map endpoint configurations, and gather intelligence for subsequent attacks against the managed infrastructure.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including proper HSTS header configuration with appropriate max-age values, enforcement of HTTPS-only connections, and comprehensive network monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure communication protocols in enterprise security management systems, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1046 - Network Service Scanning and T1566 - Phishing. Organizations must also consider implementing additional network security controls such as SSL/TLS inspection and certificate pinning to further protect against similar attacks that exploit transport layer security weaknesses.