CVE-2017-3745 in XClarity Administrator
Summary
by MITRE
In Lenovo XClarity Administrator (LXCA) before 1.3.0, if service data is downloaded from LXCA, a non-administrative user may have access to password information for users that have previously authenticated to the LXCA's internal LDAP server, including administrative accounts and service accounts with administrative privileges. This is an issue only for users who have used local authentication with LXCA and not remote authentication against external LDAP or ADFS servers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-3745 represents a critical authorization flaw within Lenovo XClarity Administrator version 1.2.0 and earlier, specifically affecting the handling of service data downloads and user credential exposure. This issue stems from improper access controls and privilege escalation mechanisms within the LXCA's internal authentication infrastructure, where non-administrative users can potentially obtain sensitive password information from previously authenticated users who utilized local authentication methods. The vulnerability exists in the context of local authentication workflows and does not impact users authenticated through external LDAP or ADFS servers, making it particularly concerning for environments where local user management is prevalent.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the service data download functionality of LXCA, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions when retrieving user information from its internal LDAP server. When users authenticate locally to LXCA, their credentials are stored and managed within the internal LDAP directory, creating a potential attack vector for users with lower privileges to access sensitive authentication data. The vulnerability specifically targets the service data export mechanisms that should normally be restricted to administrative users only, but instead allow unauthorized access to password information for accounts that have previously authenticated to the internal LDAP server. This represents a classic case of insufficient privilege checking and improper access control enforcement, which aligns with CWE-285: Improper Authorization and CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it potentially allows attackers to gain access to administrative accounts and service accounts with elevated privileges. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on local authentication within their LXCA deployments, as the exposure of service account credentials could enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure management functions. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor for unauthorized users to obtain password information for accounts that have previously authenticated to the system, effectively bypassing normal authentication and authorization controls. This issue particularly affects organizations that have implemented local user management rather than relying on external authentication systems, creating a scenario where internal authentication becomes a security risk.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1078: Valid Accounts and T1550: Use of Privileged Accounts, as it enables unauthorized access to legitimate user credentials. The flaw essentially allows lateral movement within the LXCA environment by enabling users to obtain authentication information for other accounts, potentially leading to full administrative control of the system. Organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring controls around service data download operations and user authentication events to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper access control implementation in internal authentication systems and demonstrates how local authentication can create security risks when not properly secured.
The recommended mitigations include upgrading to Lenovo XClarity Administrator version 1.3.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the access control issues. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as monitoring for unusual service data download activities, restricting access to service data export functions, and ensuring proper network segmentation around LXCA systems. Security teams should conduct thorough reviews of local user accounts and authentication workflows to identify any potential exposure, while also considering implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper privilege management and access control enforcement in enterprise management systems, particularly those handling sensitive infrastructure credentials and authentication data.