CVE-2017-1480 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 stores potentially sensitive information in log files that could be read by a remote user. IBM X-Force ID: 128617.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1480 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 information exposure flaw that compromises the confidentiality of sensitive data. This issue stems from the appliance's improper handling of sensitive information during logging operations, creating a scenario where unauthorized remote users can potentially access confidential data through log file examination. The vulnerability manifests when the system logs contain sensitive information such as authentication tokens, session identifiers, or other credential-related data that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
From a technical perspective, the flaw represents a classic case of insufficient logging security controls where the system fails to properly sanitize or mask sensitive information before writing it to log files. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and specifically relates to CWE-532, which covers information exposure through log files. The implementation error occurs at the logging subsystem level where the appliance does not adequately filter or encrypt sensitive data elements before persistent storage, creating a persistent security risk that remains viable as long as the log files exist. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1562.001 for "Timestomp" and T1070.004 for "File Deletion" when considering the potential for attackers to leverage this information for further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to conduct more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential reuse, and privilege escalation attempts. Remote attackers who can access the log files can potentially reconstruct user sessions, extract authentication tokens, or obtain other sensitive information that could be used to impersonate legitimate users or gain unauthorized access to protected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where security appliances are often deployed in network perimeters and may be accessible to external threat actors. The potential for cascading security failures increases when considering that log files often contain information that can be used to bypass other security controls, making this vulnerability a significant risk to overall security posture.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including restricting access to log files through proper access controls, implementing log file encryption, and ensuring that sensitive information is properly sanitized before logging. The recommended approach involves configuring the appliance to disable logging of sensitive information or implementing log filtering mechanisms that automatically redact or mask credential data. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular log file audits to identify and remove any sensitive information that may have been inadvertently logged, while implementing proper network segmentation to limit access to the appliance and its associated log files. The remediation process should include updating to the latest supported versions of the IBM Security Access Manager appliance where the vulnerability has been patched, following IBM's security advisory guidance for proper implementation of the security fixes.