CVE-2018-1705 in Platform Symphony
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Platform Symphony 7.1 Fix Pack 1 and 7.1.1 and IBM Spectrum Symphony 7.1.2 and 7.2.0.2 contain an information disclosure vulnerability that could allow an authenticated attacker to obtain highly sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 146340.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1705 affects IBM Platform Symphony versions 7.1 Fix Pack 1 and 7.1.1, as well as IBM Spectrum Symphony versions 7.1.2 and 7.2.0.2, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the security posture of these enterprise computing platforms. This vulnerability resides within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the Symphony platform, which is designed for distributed computing and workload management in large-scale enterprise environments. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to access highly sensitive information that should remain protected within the system boundaries, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire computing infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and inadequate input validation within the Symphony platform's administrative interfaces and data handling processes. When authenticated users interact with the system, the platform fails to properly enforce privilege levels and access restrictions, creating opportunities for unauthorized information extraction. This issue manifests particularly when users with limited privileges attempt to access system resources or configuration details that should be restricted to administrators or specific authorized personnel. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082, "System Information Discovery," as it enables adversaries to gather sensitive system data through legitimate authenticated access paths.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the enterprise environment. An authenticated attacker who exploits this vulnerability could obtain system configuration details, user credentials, network topology information, or other sensitive data that could facilitate further compromise of the platform or adjacent systems. This information disclosure could enable attackers to map the internal network structure, identify potential targets for privilege escalation, or discover system weaknesses that could be leveraged for lateral movement within the organization. The consequences are particularly severe in enterprise environments where Symphony platforms manage critical workloads and sensitive data processing tasks, as the compromised information could directly impact business continuity and regulatory compliance.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates released for these specific versions of IBM Platform Symphony and Spectrum Symphony. System administrators must also conduct thorough access control reviews to ensure that privilege levels are appropriately enforced and that users have only the minimum necessary permissions to perform their duties. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns or data extraction attempts from the Symphony platform. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other enterprise systems. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications or workflows, while also validating that proper access controls are maintained throughout the platform's operational environment.