CVE-2017-1362 in Security Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Identity Manager Adapters 6.0 and 7.0 stores user credentials in plain in clear text which can be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 126801.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1362 affects IBM Security Identity Manager Adapters version 6.0 and 7.0, representing a critical weakness in credential storage practices that exposes sensitive authentication information to unauthorized local access. This flaw resides in the adapter components responsible for managing identity authentication processes within IBM's security infrastructure, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to user credentials. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system stores user authentication credentials in plaintext format rather than implementing proper cryptographic protection mechanisms. This design flaw directly violates fundamental security principles and industry best practices for credential management, as it eliminates any form of encryption or obfuscation that would typically protect sensitive authentication data from local system users who may have elevated privileges or direct access to the system. The issue creates a persistent risk where any local user with access to the system can potentially read and extract stored credentials, effectively undermining the entire authentication framework that the security identity manager is designed to protect.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper credential encryption within the adapter configuration storage mechanisms. When user credentials are stored in clear text format, they become immediately accessible to any process or user with read permissions to the relevant storage locations. This represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a lack of proper data protection measures at the application level. The flaw can be categorized under CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1003.001 related to OS Credential Dumping. The vulnerability creates an environment where credential harvesting becomes trivial for local attackers, as they can simply access the stored information without requiring complex exploitation techniques. This weakness particularly affects systems where local access is possible, including scenarios involving compromised accounts, insider threats, or systems with inadequate access controls that allow users to read sensitive configuration files or database entries containing the plaintext credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of organizations relying on IBM Security Identity Manager Adapters for their authentication infrastructure. Attackers who gain local access can leverage these stored credentials to escalate privileges, move laterally within networks, or gain access to additional systems and resources that depend on the compromised authentication information. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where multiple user accounts are managed through the adapter system, as a single compromised credential can potentially unlock access to numerous accounts and associated resources. Organizations may experience cascading security failures where initial local access leads to broader network compromise, as the stolen credentials can be used to authenticate to other systems that share the same authentication mechanisms or user databases. This vulnerability also creates audit and compliance challenges, as the presence of plaintext credentials violates numerous regulatory requirements including those specified in standards such as pci dss, iso 27001, and nist cybersecurity framework, which mandate proper protection of sensitive authentication data. The long-term implications include potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive systems, and significant reputational damage to organizations that fail to address this vulnerability promptly.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1362 require immediate implementation of proper credential encryption mechanisms within the IBM Security Identity Manager Adapters configuration. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of the software that address the plaintext credential storage issue, while also implementing additional protective measures such as enhanced access controls, regular security audits, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to credential storage locations. The implementation of proper encryption standards including aes-256 for credential storage, combined with secure key management practices, should be enforced across all adapter configurations. System administrators must conduct comprehensive reviews of existing credential storage practices and implement automated monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and privilege separation measures to limit the potential impact of local credential access, while also establishing robust incident response procedures to address potential breaches resulting from this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched configurations to ensure that credential encryption is properly implemented and that no regressions have occurred in system functionality. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the identity management infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against credential-related attacks and maintaining compliance with industry security standards.