CVE-2017-1701 in Team Concert
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Team Concert (RTC) 5.0, 5.0.1, 5.0.2, 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.2, 6.0.3, 6.0.4, and 6.0.5 stores credentials for users using a weak encryption algorithm, which could allow an authenticated user to obtain highly sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 134393.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
IBM Team Concert version 5.0 through 6.0.5 contains a critical security vulnerability where user credentials are stored using a weak encryption algorithm, creating a significant risk for authenticated users who could potentially extract sensitive information. This vulnerability affects the credential storage mechanism within the application's authentication system, where passwords and other authentication tokens are not adequately protected. The weakness in encryption implementation allows attackers with access to the system to potentially decrypt stored credentials and gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
The technical flaw stems from the use of insufficiently strong cryptographic methods for credential storage, which falls under the category of weak encryption practices. This vulnerability represents a failure in proper cryptographic implementation and data protection mechanisms that should be in place to safeguard sensitive user information. The affected versions of IBM Team Concert utilize encryption algorithms that are either outdated, improperly implemented, or lack the necessary security strength to protect stored credentials effectively. This weakness in the cryptographic implementation creates an attack surface where authenticated users could exploit the system to retrieve stored passwords and authentication tokens.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it could enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the system. An authenticated user with access to the credential storage areas could potentially extract multiple user accounts' credentials, leading to widespread unauthorized access within the development environment. This vulnerability particularly affects development teams that rely on IBM Team Concert for collaborative software development, as compromised credentials could allow attackers to manipulate source code repositories, access sensitive project information, or disrupt development workflows. The exposure of user credentials through weak encryption creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the vulnerability is addressed through proper encryption implementation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of IBM Team Concert where the encryption algorithm has been strengthened to meet current security standards. The recommended approach involves upgrading to versions that utilize industry-standard encryption methods such as AES-256 with proper key management practices. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of credential storage mechanisms and consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential credential compromise. This vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations related to cryptographic failures and weak encryption implementation, and represents a significant concern for organizations following security frameworks such as those outlined in the CWE catalog and ATT&CK framework for credential access techniques. The remediation process should include proper key rotation procedures and enhanced monitoring of credential access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.