CVE-2017-1258 in Security Guardium
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium 10.0 and 10.1 does not perform an authentication check for a critical resource or functionality allowing anonymous users access to protected areas. IBM X-Force ID: 124685
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
IBM Security Guardium version 10.0 and 10.1 contains a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated users to access protected resources and functionality within the system. This flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture where proper authentication controls are not enforced for critical system components. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient validation of user credentials before granting access to sensitive administrative and operational functions within the Guardium environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication checks for privileged resources and functionality within the Guardium console and management interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to database monitoring capabilities, policy management functions, and other sensitive operational areas without providing valid credentials. This authentication bypass occurs at the application layer where the system fails to verify user identity before permitting access to critical system resources, creating a persistent security risk for organizations relying on Guardium for database security monitoring.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations using IBM Security Guardium. Unauthorized access to protected areas enables attackers to manipulate database security policies, view sensitive monitoring data, and potentially compromise the integrity of the entire database security infrastructure. This vulnerability directly affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of database security controls, as malicious actors can bypass the intended access controls and gain administrative privileges without proper authorization. The risk is compounded by the fact that Guardium is designed to protect database environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on it for security monitoring.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates, reviewing and strengthening access controls, and implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be enhanced to limit access to Guardium management interfaces, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify any potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms and regular security assessments to prevent unauthorized access to critical security infrastructure components.