CVE-2018-1753 in Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager 2.6, 2.7, and 3.0 generates an error message that includes sensitive information about its environment, users, or associated data. IBM X-Force ID: 148514.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2023
IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager versions 2.6, 2.7, and 3.0 contain a vulnerability that exposes sensitive environmental information through error messages, creating potential security risks for organizations relying on this key management system. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-209, which specifically addresses the improper handling of exception information that can lead to information disclosure. The flaw manifests when the system generates error responses that inadvertently include details about the underlying infrastructure, user accounts, or data structures that should remain confidential. This type of information disclosure vulnerability represents a significant concern in security-sensitive environments where key management systems handle critical cryptographic materials and access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information exposure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. When error messages contain system-specific details, database names, user account information, or internal directory structures, adversaries can leverage this intelligence to plan targeted attacks against the key management infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager is deployed as part of enterprise security frameworks, potentially compromising the integrity of cryptographic key operations and access control mechanisms. Security professionals should note that this issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which focuses on exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities to gain insights about system configurations and operational details.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager should implement immediate mitigations to address this information disclosure risk. The primary recommendation involves configuring the system to sanitize error messages before they are returned to users or logged in system records, ensuring that no sensitive environmental information is exposed. System administrators should also implement proper logging controls that prevent detailed error information from being stored in accessible locations, while maintaining audit trails for legitimate security monitoring purposes. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to verify that error handling mechanisms properly filter out sensitive data, and that system updates are applied to remediate this vulnerability in accordance with IBM security advisories. The mitigation approach should align with industry best practices for secure error handling as defined in various security frameworks and standards that emphasize the principle of least privilege in information disclosure scenarios.