CVE-2017-5189 in NetIQ iManager
Summary
by MITRE
NetIQ iManager before 3.0.3 delivered a SSL private key in a Java application (JAR file) for authentication to Sentinel, allowing attackers to extract and establish their own connections to the Sentinel appliance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5189 represents a critical security flaw in NetIQ iManager versions prior to 3.0.3 that fundamentally undermines the authentication mechanism between the iManager application and Sentinel appliances. This issue stems from the improper handling of cryptographic materials within the application's deployment package, specifically embedding a SSL private key directly within a Java Archive file that is distributed to clients. The flaw creates an environment where unauthorized parties can extract sensitive cryptographic credentials and leverage them to impersonate legitimate users within the network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the inclusion of a private SSL key within the JAR file structure of the NetIQ iManager application, which is designed to authenticate communications with Sentinel appliances. When the application attempts to establish secure connections with the Sentinel system, it uses this embedded private key for authentication purposes. The exposure of this private key within a publicly accessible JAR file creates a direct path for attackers to extract the cryptographic material and subsequently establish unauthorized connections to the Sentinel appliance. This represents a fundamental failure in cryptographic key management and secure application deployment practices.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to bypass the intended authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to the Sentinel appliance, potentially allowing them to monitor, modify, or disrupt security operations within the network. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as the compromised private key could enable attackers to impersonate legitimate systems and potentially escalate privileges within the security infrastructure. This vulnerability directly affects the integrity and confidentiality of security monitoring operations, as the Sentinel appliance serves as a critical component for security event management and log analysis within enterprise environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues related to the use of weak or improperly managed cryptographic keys, and reflects poor security practices in software distribution and credential management. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and persistence, as attackers can use the extracted private key to establish persistent connections to the Sentinel appliance. The flaw also demonstrates a lack of principle of least privilege in application design, where sensitive cryptographic materials are not properly protected or separated from the application distribution package.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement remediation measures including updating to NetIQ iManager version 3.0.3 or later, which properly addresses the embedded private key issue. Security administrators should conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all instances of vulnerable iManager versions and ensure proper key rotation procedures are implemented. Additional mitigations should include network segmentation to limit access to Sentinel appliances, monitoring for unauthorized connections, and implementing additional authentication layers beyond the compromised SSL key mechanism. Regular security assessments should verify that cryptographic materials are properly protected and that sensitive credentials are not embedded within application packages. The incident highlights the critical importance of secure software development practices and proper cryptographic key lifecycle management in enterprise security infrastructure deployments.