CVE-2017-5001 in RSA Archer
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RSA Archer 5.4.1.3, 5.5.3.1, 5.5.2.3, 5.5.2, 5.5.1.3.1, 5.5.1.1 is affected by an information exposure through an error message vulnerability. A remote low privileged attacker may potentially exploit this vulnerability to use information disclosed in an error message to launch another more focused attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5001 affects EMC RSA Archer versions 5.4.1.3, 5.5.3.1, 5.5.2.3, 5.5.2, 5.5.1.3.1, and 5.5.1.1, representing a critical information exposure flaw that stems from improper error handling within the application. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-209 category, which specifically addresses information exposure through error messages, making it a direct descendant of the broader CWE-200 information exposure weakness. The flaw manifests when the application generates error responses that inadvertently reveal sensitive system information, including but not limited to internal paths, system configurations, or database structures, to unauthorized users who can access the application's web interface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple versions of the RSA Archer platform, indicating a widespread issue within the product's error handling mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to sanitize error messages before displaying them to users, allowing attackers to observe detailed system information that would normally be hidden from external view. When legitimate users or attackers trigger specific error conditions within the application, the system returns error messages that contain verbose debugging information, server paths, or internal component details. This exposure occurs at the application layer, specifically within the web application's error reporting functionality, where insufficient input validation and error handling routines fail to strip sensitive data from the responses. The vulnerability is classified as a remote low privilege attack vector, meaning that even unauthenticated users can potentially exploit this flaw without requiring elevated system access or specialized tools beyond basic web browsing capabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a reconnaissance technique under T1069.001 for credential access and T1083 for file and directory discovery, as attackers can use the disclosed information to map the application's architecture and identify potential attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks against the affected system. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can use the exposed information to craft targeted attacks against specific system components, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data theft, or system compromise. The disclosed information may include database connection strings, file paths, server configurations, or even internal API endpoints that can be leveraged for further exploitation. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using RSA Archer for business process management, risk assessment, and compliance monitoring, where the exposure of system internals could lead to targeted attacks against sensitive business data or operational processes. The vulnerability creates a cascading effect where initial reconnaissance through error message analysis can lead to more severe compromise scenarios, making it a critical concern for organizations that rely on this platform for mission-critical operations.
Organizations affected by CVE-2017-5001 should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive error handling modifications, input validation improvements, and the deployment of web application firewalls to filter sensitive information from error responses. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to return generic error messages to users while logging detailed technical information internally for administrators. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability, as the affected versions represent a significant risk to system integrity and data confidentiality. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any other applications within their environment that may exhibit similar error handling flaws, as this vulnerability demonstrates a pattern of inadequate security controls in web application error reporting mechanisms. The implementation of proper security monitoring and logging procedures will help detect exploitation attempts and provide early warning of potential attacks targeting this type of information exposure vulnerability.