CVE-2018-1749 in Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager 2.6, 2.7, and 3.0 uses incomplete blacklisting for input validation which allows attackers to bypass application controls resulting in direct impact to the system and data integrity. IBM X-Force ID: 148484.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1749 affects IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager versions 2.6, 2.7, and 3.0, representing a critical input validation flaw that undermines the security controls designed to protect cryptographic key management operations. This issue stems from incomplete blacklisting mechanisms that fail to adequately filter malicious input patterns, creating exploitable pathways for unauthorized system access and data manipulation. The vulnerability resides within the application's validation logic where attackers can craft inputs that bypass existing security checks, directly compromising the integrity of the key management infrastructure. Such weaknesses are particularly dangerous in cryptographic environments where proper input validation is essential for maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive key material.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic incomplete input validation flaw that maps to CWE-20, which specifically addresses improper input validation in software systems. The incomplete blacklisting approach used by the IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager fails to account for various encoding techniques and obfuscation methods that attackers might employ to circumvent validation controls. This weakness allows malicious actors to inject specially crafted parameters or data structures that are not properly filtered out by the existing blacklisting rules, thereby enabling unauthorized access to key management functions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential data corruption and system compromise, as attackers can manipulate key lifecycle operations through the bypassed validation controls.
Operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, particularly in enterprise environments where cryptographic key management systems are critical for data protection and regulatory compliance. The ability to bypass application controls directly affects the system's integrity and can lead to unauthorized key generation, modification, or deletion operations that compromise the entire cryptographic infrastructure. Organizations relying on IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager for managing encryption keys face significant risk of data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruptions. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, potential key compromise, and disruption of critical cryptographic services that organizations depend upon for security operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation controls that go beyond simple blacklisting approaches. Organizations should deploy robust whitelist-based validation mechanisms that explicitly define acceptable input patterns rather than relying on incomplete blacklisting rules. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input sanitization procedures, regular security testing of validation controls, and ensuring that all input processing components maintain up-to-date validation rules. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls, input monitoring, and comprehensive logging of all key management operations to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for input validation bypass emphasizes the need for layered defense mechanisms that can detect and prevent such exploitation attempts through multiple control points within the security architecture.