CVE-2017-1768 in Security Guardium Big Data Intelligence
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium Big Data Intelligence (SonarG) 3.1 generates an error message that includes sensitive information about its environment, users, or associated data. IBM X-Force ID: 136471.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2023
IBM Security Guardium Big Data Intelligence SonarG version 3.1 contains a vulnerability that exposes sensitive environmental information through error messages, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this data protection platform. This issue falls under the category of information exposure vulnerabilities as defined by CWE-209, where error handling mechanisms inadvertently reveal system details that could be exploited by attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects the error reporting functionality within the SonarG component, which is designed to monitor and protect big data environments. When system errors occur during processing or data access operations, the application generates error messages that contain detailed information about the underlying database structure, user accounts, or data paths. This exposure of internal system details represents a classic case of insecure error handling that violates fundamental security principles. The vulnerability allows potential attackers to gather intelligence about the system architecture, which can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks targeting specific components or data access patterns.
The technical flaw manifests when the SonarG system encounters processing errors or access violations, causing it to generate verbose error messages that include database connection details, user identifiers, or file paths. These error messages are typically logged and may be accessible to unauthorized users or captured during network monitoring activities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a security product designed to protect sensitive data environments, meaning that the exposure of system information could provide attackers with insights into the very systems the product is meant to secure. This creates a paradoxical situation where the security tool itself becomes a potential vector for information disclosure. The error messages could reveal database schema information, user authentication details, or other sensitive operational data that would normally be protected within a secure environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it significantly weakens the overall security posture of organizations using the affected system. Attackers who can access these error messages gain valuable reconnaissance information that can be used to craft targeted attacks against the system or its underlying data infrastructure. The exposure of user accounts, database structures, or access patterns could enable privilege escalation attempts or facilitate more advanced exploitation techniques. Organizations may experience increased risk of data breaches or unauthorized access attempts as attackers leverage the disclosed information to identify potential attack vectors. The vulnerability also impacts compliance requirements, as it may violate data protection regulations that mandate the protection of sensitive system information. The exposure of system internals through error messages can also affect the confidentiality of data processing operations and potentially compromise the integrity of security monitoring functions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including configuring the system to suppress detailed error messages and implementing proper error handling mechanisms that do not expose sensitive information. The recommended approach involves modifying the application configuration to ensure that error messages contain only generic information without revealing system internals. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect and alert on unusual error message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that error handling has been properly configured and that no sensitive information is being exposed through error reporting mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should review their logging practices to ensure that detailed error information is not stored in accessible locations and that access controls are properly enforced on system logs and error reporting functions. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure error handling practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to reconnaissance and information gathering activities.