CVE-2017-1668 in Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager 2.5, 2.6, and 2.7 could allow a remote attacker to conduct phishing attacks, using an open redirect attack. By persuading a victim to visit a specially-crafted Web site, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to spoof the URL displayed to redirect a user to a malicious Web site that would appear to be trusted. This could allow the attacker to obtain highly sensitive information or conduct further attacks against the victim. IBM X-Force ID: 133562.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1668 affects IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager versions 2.5, 2.6, and 2.7, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute open redirect attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-601 category of URL Redirection to Untrusted Site, which is classified as a significant concern in web application security. The flaw specifically resides in the application's handling of web redirects, where it fails to properly validate or sanitize redirect parameters that are passed to the system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that appear legitimate but redirect users to attacker-controlled domains, effectively bypassing the security mechanisms that should prevent such redirections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attempts, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attack vectors that can compromise user trust and system integrity. When users click on malicious links, they are redirected through what appears to be a legitimate IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager interface, making it extremely difficult for users to distinguish between authentic and malicious redirects. This deception capability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which involves phishing through social media platforms and web applications, where the attacker leverages the perceived trustworthiness of the legitimate application to gain access to sensitive information. The vulnerability allows for the potential compromise of highly sensitive data including cryptographic keys, user credentials, and other confidential information that may be handled by the key lifecycle management system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites and can be executed from any location with internet access, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may have legitimate access to the targeted system. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that the vulnerability exists within a system that manages critical cryptographic assets, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to widespread compromise of encryption keys, digital certificates, and other security infrastructure elements. Organizations using affected versions of IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager face significant risk as attackers can construct convincing phishing campaigns that leverage the legitimate application's interface to harvest credentials and sensitive information. The vulnerability's persistence in multiple versions suggests that the underlying code flaw was not properly addressed during development cycles, indicating potential gaps in security testing and code review processes.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, as IBM has released fixes for this vulnerability in subsequent versions of the software. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring of redirect parameters and consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns. The security team should also conduct user awareness training to help employees recognize potential phishing attempts and understand how to verify the legitimacy of URLs before clicking on them. Organizations should review their access controls and implement additional authentication mechanisms to reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing systems while maintaining the security posture of the key lifecycle management infrastructure.