CVE-2018-1476 in BigFix Platform
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Platform 9.2.0 through 9.2.14 and 9.5 through 9.5.9 discloses sensitive information to unauthorized users. The information can be used to mount further attacks on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 140757.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1476 affects IBM BigFix Platform versions 9.2.0 through 9.2.14 and 9.5 through 9.5.9, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that compromises system security. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and represents a significant weakness in the platform's access control mechanisms. The affected system fails to properly restrict access to sensitive data, allowing unauthorized users to obtain confidential information that could be leveraged for subsequent attacks. The IBM X-Force ID 140757 further validates the severity and classification of this vulnerability within the security community.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient authorization checks within the BigFix Platform's authentication and access control subsystems. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass normal access restrictions and gain visibility into sensitive system information that should remain protected. The vulnerability likely exists in the platform's web interface or API endpoints that handle user authentication and session management, where proper access controls are not enforced. This allows attackers to potentially extract configuration details, user credentials, system metadata, or other sensitive operational data that would normally be restricted to authorized administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked data can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could use the disclosed information to perform credential stuffing attacks, identify system vulnerabilities, map network topology, or conduct targeted social engineering campaigns. The exposure of internal system details provides threat actors with valuable intelligence for planning further exploitation attempts, potentially leading to complete system compromise or data breaches. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1087.001 "Account Discovery" and T1005 "Data from Local System" as it enables unauthorized access to system information.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by IBM, reviewing and strengthening access controls, and implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. The remediation process should involve comprehensive security configuration reviews, particularly focusing on authentication mechanisms and session management protocols. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of user access permissions and implement principle of least privilege controls. Additional protective measures include monitoring for suspicious access patterns, implementing intrusion detection systems, and establishing more robust logging and alerting mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and highlights the need for continuous security assessment of enterprise management platforms.