CVE-2017-13989 in ArcSight ESM
Summary
by MITRE
An improper access control vulnerability in ArcSight ESM and ArcSight ESM Express, any 6.x version prior to 6.9.1c Patch 4 or 6.11.0 Patch 1, allows unauthorized users to retrieve or modify storage information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13989 represents a critical improper access control flaw within the ArcSight Enterprise Security Manager (ESM) and ArcSight ESM Express platforms. This weakness affects all versions in the 6.x series prior to the release of 6.9.1c Patch 4 or 6.11.0 Patch 1, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these security information and event management solutions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization controls that permit unauthorized individuals to gain access to storage information within the system, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive security data.
The technical nature of this flaw falls under CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control vulnerabilities in software systems. This weakness allows attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and directly access storage components that should be restricted to authorized administrative personnel only. The vulnerability operates at the application level where the system fails to properly validate user permissions before granting access to underlying storage repositories. Attackers can exploit this issue to retrieve sensitive data stored within the ArcSight environment, including security event logs, alert configurations, and other critical operational information that would normally require elevated privileges to access.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents substantial risk to organizations utilizing ArcSight ESM solutions for security monitoring and incident response. Unauthorized access to storage information could enable attackers to extract valuable threat intelligence, manipulate security policies, or corrupt critical system data. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers could potentially modify storage configurations to hide malicious activities or disrupt security operations. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as it allows lateral movement within the security infrastructure without proper authentication.
The attack vector for this vulnerability typically involves an attacker exploiting the access control bypass to gain unauthorized access to storage components through the ArcSight ESM interface or underlying database connections. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage and privilege escalation through improper access controls. Organizations may find that attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform reconnaissance activities, gather information about system configurations, and potentially establish persistent access to their security infrastructure. The exploitation of such a flaw could lead to extended periods of undetected compromise, as the attacker would have access to storage information without triggering typical authentication-based security alerts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13989 primarily involve applying the vendor-provided patches and updates to bring affected systems to supported versions. Organizations should immediately implement the 6.9.1c Patch 4 or 6.11.0 Patch 1 releases that address this specific access control weakness. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive reviews of existing user permissions and access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel maintain access to storage components. Network segmentation and monitoring of access patterns to storage systems can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar access control weaknesses in other components of the security infrastructure, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authorization controls in security management platforms.