CVE-2017-9284 in IDM
Summary
by MITRE
IDM 4.6 Identity Applications prior to 4.6.2.1 may expose sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9284 affects the Internet Identity Manager (IDM) 4.6 Identity Applications version 4.6.2.1 and earlier, representing a sensitive information exposure issue that could compromise system security. This vulnerability resides within the identity management framework that handles user authentication and authorization processes, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on robust identity governance. The flaw allows unauthorized access to sensitive data that should remain protected within the system's secure boundaries, potentially enabling attackers to gain insights into user credentials, system configurations, or other confidential information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and insufficient input validation within the IDM 4.6 Identity Applications. Specifically, the system fails to properly restrict access to sensitive endpoints or data structures, allowing authenticated users or potentially unauthenticated attackers to retrieve information that should be protected. This issue aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and represents a classic example of information disclosure vulnerability. The flaw likely manifests through improper error handling, missing authorization checks, or insufficient sanitization of data returned by system components. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests or by leveraging existing access to perform reconnaissance activities that reveal system internals.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9284 extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks within the compromised environment. Organizations utilizing affected IDM versions face risks including credential harvesting, system reconnaissance, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The exposure of sensitive information could facilitate privilege escalation attacks, where attackers use the leaked data to gain elevated access rights or to impersonate legitimate users. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where IDM serves as a central identity management system, as the compromised information could provide attackers with pathways to access multiple systems and applications that depend on the identity infrastructure. The impact is further amplified when considering that identity management systems often serve as attack vectors in broader security breaches, as highlighted in the ATT&CK framework under the credential access and reconnaissance tactics.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9284 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to IDM 4.6.2.1 or later versions that address the sensitive information exposure. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify all systems running affected versions and prioritize their remediation. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues within the identity management infrastructure. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing identity management workflows or integrations. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual access patterns or data retrieval activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, as recommended in industry best practices for identity and access management security.