CVE-2017-1339 in Tivoli Storage Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1 and 8.1 (formerly Tivoli Storage Manager) Server uses weak encryption for the password. A database administrator may be able to decrypt the IBM Spectrum protect client or administrator password which can result in information disclosure or a denial of service. IBM X-Force ID: 126247.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1339 affects IBM Spectrum Protect servers version 7.1 and 8.1, which were previously known as Tivoli Storage Manager. This weakness resides in the encryption implementation used for storing passwords within the system's database, representing a significant security flaw that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the protected environment. The vulnerability stems from the use of insufficiently strong cryptographic algorithms that fail to provide adequate protection for sensitive authentication credentials.
The technical flaw manifests in the database encryption mechanism that IBM Spectrum Protect employs for password storage, where weak encryption algorithms are utilized instead of robust cryptographic standards. This weakness allows a database administrator with appropriate access privileges to potentially decrypt client or administrator passwords stored within the system's database. The vulnerability specifically impacts the password encryption process, creating a scenario where attackers with database administrative access could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to system credentials. This issue falls under the category of weak cryptographic implementation as defined by CWE-327, which addresses the use of insecure or weak cryptographic algorithms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling attackers to achieve privilege escalation and unauthorized system access. When a database administrator can decrypt passwords, they gain the ability to impersonate legitimate users and potentially compromise the entire storage management infrastructure. This weakness could lead to unauthorized data access, modification of backup policies, or even complete system compromise depending on the privileges associated with the compromised accounts. The vulnerability can also result in denial of service conditions when attackers manipulate password information or disable legitimate access to the system. From an operational perspective, this issue undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the system's authentication mechanisms and creates potential attack vectors for both internal and external adversaries.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing stronger encryption standards and ensuring proper access controls for database administrators. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of IBM Spectrum Protect that address this vulnerability and implement proper database access controls to limit administrative privileges. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced for database administrators, ensuring they only have access to the minimum necessary resources to perform their duties. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication for critical administrative accounts and regularly audit database access logs to detect unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of cryptographic best practices and proper security configuration management, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for credentials from password storage modules and T1078.004 for valid accounts. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security testing to verify that the encryption implementation meets industry standards and that no other weak cryptographic implementations exist within the system infrastructure.