CVE-2017-1483 in Security Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Identity Manager Adapters 6.0 and 7.0 does not perform an authentication check for a critical resource or functionality allowing anonymous users access to protected areas. IBM X-Force ID: 128621.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1483 affects IBM Security Identity Manager Adapters version 6.0 and 7.0, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of identity management systems. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate user credentials when accessing sensitive resources, creating an unauthorized access vector that allows anonymous users to gain entry to protected areas of the system. The flaw specifically targets critical resources and functionality within the adapter framework, which serves as a bridge between identity management systems and various enterprise applications, making it a particularly dangerous vulnerability in security infrastructure.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability constitutes a direct violation of authentication controls and represents a classic case of inadequate access control implementation. The flaw allows attackers to bypass the authentication mechanism entirely, enabling them to access sensitive data and functionality without proper authorization. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-287, which deals with improper authentication, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables unauthorized access that could facilitate further compromise. The vulnerability exists at the adapter level, suggesting that the authentication checks are either missing or improperly implemented in the middleware components that facilitate identity synchronization and management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of identity management systems. Attackers could potentially access user credentials, identity data, and privileged information that should remain protected within the security identity manager framework. This vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of IBM Security Identity Manager, potentially allowing lateral movement within networks where identity synchronization is critical. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where identity management systems serve as central points of authentication and authorization, as unauthorized access could lead to privilege escalation, data breaches, and compromise of downstream systems that rely on identity information.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates, reviewing and strengthening authentication controls, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems. The remediation process should involve comprehensive security assessments of identity management infrastructure, along with monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and anomalous behavior patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing additional authentication layers, such as multi-factor authentication, and establishing robust logging and monitoring capabilities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and conducting regular security assessments of critical infrastructure components that handle identity and access management functions.