CVE-2017-5184 in Sentinel Server
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability was discovered in NetIQ Sentinel Server 8.0 before 8.0.1 that may allow leakage of information (account enumeration).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5184 affects NetIQ Sentinel Server version 8.0 prior to 8.0.1, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that enables unauthorized account enumeration. This vulnerability resides within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the Sentinel Server platform, which serves as a comprehensive security information and event management solution for enterprise environments. The flaw manifests when the system provides inconsistent responses to authentication attempts, allowing attackers to determine the validity of user accounts through subtle variations in system behavior or response timing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and response handling within the authentication subsystem. When users attempt to authenticate with the system, the server exhibits different behavioral patterns based on whether the account exists or not, creating a side-channel information leak. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure, and represents a classic example of account enumeration through differential response analysis. Attackers can exploit this weakness by systematically testing various username credentials and observing the server's responses to identify valid accounts within the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5184 extends beyond simple information leakage, as it provides adversaries with a foundational foothold for subsequent attacks. Once valid accounts are enumerated, attackers can proceed with brute force attacks, credential stuffing, or social engineering campaigns targeting specific user accounts. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using NetIQ Sentinel Server for security monitoring and log analysis, where the compromised system may contain sensitive operational data and security event logs. The implications are exacerbated in environments where the Sentinel Server manages authentication for critical infrastructure components, as successful account enumeration can lead to broader system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment to upgrade NetIQ Sentinel Server to version 8.0.1 or later, which addresses the inconsistent response handling in authentication processes. Organizations should implement additional defensive measures including account lockout policies, rate limiting for authentication attempts, and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit lateral movement opportunities for compromised accounts. From an operational security perspective, regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in authentication systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1078, which covers valid accounts as a technique for persistence and privilege escalation, making it a critical target for defensive security measures. Security teams should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms to reduce the impact of compromised credentials and establish comprehensive monitoring for authentication anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts.