CVE-2017-1396 in Security Identity Governance Virtual Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Identity Governance Virtual Appliance 5.2 through 5.2.3.2 specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors. IBM X-Force ID: 127342.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1396 affects IBM Security Identity Governance Virtual Appliance versions 5.2 through 5.2.3.2, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of identity governance systems. This issue stems from improper permission configuration for security-sensitive resources within the virtual appliance environment, creating a pathway for unauthorized entities to gain access to critical identity management functions. The vulnerability specifically targets the resource access control mechanisms that should enforce strict authorization boundaries between different user roles and system components, ultimately compromising the integrity and confidentiality of identity governance operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through inadequate permission specifications that fail to properly restrict access to sensitive security resources. According to CWE-284, this represents an improper access control vulnerability where the system does not adequately enforce authorization checks for critical resources. The flaw allows unintended actors to either read or modify security-critical data, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks or data manipulation scenarios that could severely impact identity management processes. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to identity governance configurations, user credentials, or access control policies that govern the entire identity ecosystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling sophisticated attacks that leverage the compromised identity governance infrastructure. Adversaries could manipulate access control policies, modify user entitlements, or extract sensitive identity information that would otherwise remain protected. This vulnerability directly affects the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to identity governance systems, allowing attackers to escalate their privileges beyond what should be permitted. The implications include potential data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and the undermining of the entire identity governance framework's security guarantees, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest supported versions of the IBM Security Identity Governance Virtual Appliance where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper access control implementation. System administrators should conduct thorough access control reviews to ensure that security-critical resources maintain appropriate permission settings and that unnecessary access rights have been revoked. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to identity governance systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in security-critical applications, aligning with industry best practices for protecting sensitive identity management infrastructure and ensuring compliance with security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001.