CVE-2018-1373 in Security Guardium Big Data Intelligence
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium Big Data Intelligence (SonarG) 3.1 uses an inadequate account lockout setting that could allow a remote attacker to brute force account credentials. IBM X-Force ID: 137773.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1373 affects IBM Security Guardium Big Data Intelligence SonarG version 3.1, representing a critical weakness in the system's authentication security mechanisms. This flaw resides in the account lockout configuration which fails to implement adequate protection against brute force attacks, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote adversaries to systematically guess user credentials through automated attack vectors. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication subsystem where proper account lockout policies are not enforced, enabling attackers to repeatedly attempt login attempts without sufficient account lockout mechanisms to prevent such activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient account lockout settings within the SonarG platform's authentication framework. When users attempt to authenticate with incorrect credentials, the system should implement a progressive lockout mechanism that increases the delay between login attempts or temporarily disables the account after a predetermined number of failed attempts. However, the vulnerable version fails to enforce these protective measures, allowing attackers to execute rapid successive authentication attempts that can lead to successful credential compromise through systematic brute force methodologies. This weakness directly violates security best practices established by industry standards and security frameworks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations utilizing IBM Security Guardium SonarG for big data intelligence operations. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive security data and intelligence gathered by the platform, potentially compromising the entire security infrastructure that relies on this system for monitoring and threat detection. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access or network proximity to exploit this weakness, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed network environments or cloud-based deployments. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as compromised credentials could provide attackers with visibility into critical security monitoring data and potentially enable further lateral movement within the network.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by configuring proper account lockout policies within the SonarG system, including setting appropriate thresholds for failed login attempts and implementing progressive delays between authentication attempts. The solution involves enabling and properly configuring the account lockout mechanisms that should be available within the platform's security settings. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication where possible, monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, and conducting regular security audits of authentication systems should be considered as part of comprehensive remediation strategies. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-307 weak account lockout mechanisms and represents a significant concern in the context of the ATT&CK framework under credential access tactics, specifically targeting the exploitation of weak authentication controls to achieve unauthorized system access.