CVE-2018-1626 in Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance 2.2.1 does not renew a session variable after a successful authentication which could lead to session fixation/hijacking vulnerability. This could force a user to utilize a cookie that may be known to an attacker. IBM X-Force ID: 144411.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1626 affects IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance version 2.2.1, representing a critical session management flaw that undermines the security posture of privileged access controls. This issue stems from the appliance's failure to properly handle session variable renewal following successful authentication events, creating a persistent security weakness that directly impacts the integrity of user authentication processes. The vulnerability exists within the session management subsystem of the virtual appliance, where authentication success does not trigger the necessary session token regeneration that would normally occur in secure authentication implementations.
The technical flaw manifests as a session fixation vulnerability where the system fails to invalidate and regenerate session identifiers upon successful user authentication. This behavior creates a scenario where an attacker who has obtained a valid session cookie can maintain persistent access to the system even after legitimate users have authenticated. The vulnerability specifically affects the session variable renewal mechanism, which should automatically generate new session identifiers to prevent attackers from reusing compromised session tokens. This flaw aligns with CWE-384, which addresses session management weaknesses that can lead to session fixation attacks, and represents a direct violation of secure session handling best practices. The persistent nature of the session identifier means that any session cookie captured by an attacker remains valid and usable, effectively allowing unauthorized access to privileged accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant within enterprise security environments where privileged identity management is critical for maintaining system integrity and compliance requirements. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can maintain persistent access to privileged accounts without detection, potentially leading to unauthorized system modifications, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager for controlling access to critical systems, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the authentication process. This weakness can be exploited through various attack vectors including man-in-the-middle techniques, credential theft, or session hijacking methods that leverage the persistent session tokens. The risk is amplified in environments where privileged accounts have elevated system access, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate implementation of session management updates and configuration changes within the IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager appliance. Organizations should ensure that all authentication events properly invalidate and regenerate session identifiers to prevent session fixation scenarios. The recommended approach includes implementing proper session handling protocols that automatically generate new session tokens upon successful authentication, as well as implementing session timeout mechanisms that limit the duration of valid sessions. Security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that session cookies are properly marked as secure and HttpOnly attributes are enabled to prevent client-side script access. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual session behavior patterns, and regular security assessments should be conducted to verify proper session management implementation. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms to add additional layers of security beyond the basic session management controls, as outlined in various security frameworks including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework for session management and credential access techniques.