CVE-2017-1774 in Security Guardium Big Data Intelligence
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium Big Data Intelligence (SonarG) 3.1 discloses sensitive information to unauthorized users. The information can be used to mount further attacks on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 136818.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1774 affects IBM Security Guardium Big Data Intelligence SonarG version 3.1, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the security posture of organizations relying on this data protection platform. This issue stems from inadequate access controls and improper authorization mechanisms within the system's architecture, allowing unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive data that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability resides in the platform's handling of authentication and authorization processes, where insufficient validation occurs during data access requests, creating potential entry points for malicious actors seeking to exploit the system's weaknesses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper access control enforcement mechanisms that fail to adequately verify user credentials and privileges before granting data access. Attackers can exploit this weakness to retrieve sensitive information including but not limited to database credentials, system configurations, user account details, and potentially confidential business data. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be leveraged through network-based attacks where unauthorized users gain access to the system through various attack vectors including compromised credentials, network sniffing, or exploitation of other adjacent vulnerabilities that may exist within the platform's ecosystem. This information disclosure creates a significant risk as it provides attackers with valuable intelligence that can be used to conduct more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation, lateral movement, or targeted data exfiltration.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-1774 extends beyond immediate data exposure, creating cascading security risks that can compromise the entire security infrastructure of affected organizations. Organizations utilizing IBM Security Guardium Big Data Intelligence SonarG may experience unauthorized access to critical business data, potentially leading to regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, reputational damage, and legal consequences. The vulnerability directly violates several security principles including confidentiality, integrity, and availability as outlined in the CIA triad, while also aligning with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues. The disclosure of sensitive information can enable attackers to bypass additional security controls, escalate privileges within the system, or conduct advanced persistent threats that leverage the stolen credentials and system information for prolonged unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of defensive measures including immediate patch application from IBM, implementation of network segmentation to limit access to the affected system, enforcement of strict access controls and authentication mechanisms, and comprehensive monitoring of access logs for suspicious activities. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement network intrusion detection systems to monitor for unauthorized access patterns. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that access controls are properly enforced and that no additional vulnerabilities exist within the platform's configuration. Security teams should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication, regular security audits, and enhanced logging mechanisms to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities from manifesting in other system components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting which are commonly associated with information disclosure vulnerabilities of this nature.