CVE-2017-1473 in Security Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Access Manager Appliance 8.0.0 through 8.0.1.6 and 9.0.0 through 9.0.3.1 uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms that could allow an attacker to decrypt highly sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 128605.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1473 affects IBM Security Access Manager Appliances version 8.0.0 through 8.0.1.6 and 9.0.0 through 9.0.3.1, representing a critical cryptographic weakness that undermines the security posture of these identity and access management systems. This flaw resides in the appliance's implementation of cryptographic algorithms, specifically utilizing weaker than expected encryption standards that can be exploited by adversaries to compromise sensitive data. The vulnerability stems from the appliance's failure to implement robust cryptographic protocols that would normally be expected in enterprise security solutions, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on this platform for access control and authentication services.
The technical flaw manifests through the use of insufficiently strong cryptographic algorithms that do not meet contemporary security standards for protecting sensitive information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to decrypt communications and data that should remain protected, potentially gaining access to authentication tokens, user credentials, and other confidential information processed by the appliance. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core cryptographic functions of the security appliance, which are designed to protect enterprise networks from unauthorized access. This weakness allows attackers to perform decryption attacks that would normally be prevented by stronger cryptographic implementations, essentially undermining the fundamental security guarantees that the appliance is meant to provide. The issue is classified under CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for unsecured credentials and T1552.006 for data manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of access management services provided by the appliance. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions may experience unauthorized access to protected resources, potential credential theft, and disruption of access control mechanisms that are critical for enterprise security. The vulnerability affects the appliance's ability to properly secure communications between users and the system, potentially allowing attackers to intercept and decrypt sensitive information during transmission or at rest within the appliance's memory. This weakness creates a persistent threat that can be exploited over time, as attackers can leverage the cryptographic weakness to gain deeper access to enterprise networks and potentially escalate privileges within the environment. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects multiple versions of the IBM Security Access Manager, meaning that organizations across different release cycles may be exposed to the same risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1473 require immediate action to upgrade affected appliances to patched versions that implement stronger cryptographic algorithms. Organizations should prioritize updating to IBM Security Access Manager versions that address the weak cryptographic implementations, ensuring that all affected systems are properly patched and validated. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, while additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication should be implemented to reduce the impact of any successful attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date cryptographic implementations and the need for organizations to regularly assess their security infrastructure for similar weaknesses. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their cryptographic implementations and ensure that all systems adhere to industry standards such as those specified in NIST SP 800-57 and FIPS 140-2, which provide guidelines for cryptographic strength and implementation practices that would prevent such vulnerabilities from occurring.