CVE-2018-1525 in i2 Enterprise Insight Analysis
Summary
by MITRE
IBM i2 Enterprise Insight Analysis 2.1.7 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by the failure to properly enable HTTP Strict Transport Security. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to obtain sensitive information using man in the middle techniques. IBM X-Force ID: 142117.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1525 affects IBM i2 Enterprise Insight Analysis version 2.1.7, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of data transmission between clients and servers. This issue stems from the improper implementation of HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) mechanisms within the application's web interface, creating exploitable conditions that enable malicious actors to intercept and manipulate sensitive communications. The vulnerability resides in the application's failure to enforce secure communication channels, leaving systems susceptible to various forms of network-based attacks that compromise data confidentiality.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper HSTS header implementation within the web application's HTTP responses. HSTS is a security feature that instructs web browsers to only communicate with the server using HTTPS connections, thereby preventing downgrade attacks and cookie hijacking attempts. Without this protection, attackers can exploit man-in-the-middle techniques to intercept communications between users and the application server, potentially gaining access to authentication tokens, session identifiers, and other sensitive data transmitted over the network. This flaw directly corresponds to CWE-311, which specifically addresses the absence of proper data encryption in transmission, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential access through social engineering or network manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a pathway for more sophisticated attacks that can lead to complete system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to conduct session hijacking attacks, where they intercept valid session tokens and impersonate legitimate users within the i2 Enterprise Insight Analysis environment. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on this platform for critical intelligence analysis, as the exposure of sensitive information could compromise ongoing investigations, strategic planning, and confidential operational data. Additionally, the attack surface is broadened by the fact that this vulnerability affects the web-based interface of the application, making it accessible to any attacker with network connectivity to the affected system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations to address the HSTS implementation gap and strengthen their overall security posture. The primary remediation involves configuring the web server to properly implement HSTS headers with appropriate parameters, including setting a sufficiently long max-age value and ensuring the includeSubDomains directive is enabled. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive network monitoring to detect any suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts, while reviewing existing SSL/TLS configurations to ensure they meet current security standards. The implementation of additional security controls such as certificate pinning and regular security assessments can further reduce the risk of successful exploitation, as recommended by industry best practices for web application security and aligned with NIST SP 800-53 security controls for secure communications and access control.