CVE-2018-1768 in Spectrum Protect Plus
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Spectrum Protect Plus 10.1.0 and 10.1.1 could disclose sensitive information when an authorized user executes a test operation, the user id an password may be displayed in plain text within an instrumentation log file. IBM X-Force ID: 148622.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
IBM Spectrum Protect Plus version 10.1.0 and 10.1.1 contains a sensitive data exposure vulnerability that allows unauthorized disclosure of authentication credentials through log file instrumentation. This vulnerability specifically affects the system when an authorized user performs a test operation, creating a security risk where user credentials are stored in plain text format within instrumentation log files. The flaw represents a critical configuration oversight that violates fundamental security principles of credential handling and logging practices. According to CWE-312, this vulnerability falls under the category of "Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information" where sensitive data is stored in an unencrypted format, making it immediately accessible to any entity with read access to the log files. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure as it provides potential attackers with valid authentication tokens that could be used for privilege escalation or unauthorized access to protected systems. The vulnerability exists because the system fails to properly sanitize or encrypt sensitive information during test operations, creating a persistent security risk that remains active until the affected software versions are patched. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" and demonstrates how credential exposure can enable unauthorized access to cloud-based backup solutions. The logging mechanism in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus does not implement proper data sanitization protocols, allowing plain text credentials to be written to system instrumentation logs without adequate protection measures. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face significant risk as the exposure could occur during routine testing activities, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it may go unnoticed for extended periods. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and secure configuration management, where system components are not properly secured against credential leakage through logging mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authorized user to execute a test operation within the system, which then triggers the creation of instrumentation logs containing the plain text credentials. This design flaw creates an attack surface where any individual with access to the log files can immediately extract user identifiers and passwords without requiring additional attack vectors. The vulnerability is classified as a medium to high severity issue due to the direct exposure of authentication credentials and the potential for privilege escalation. IBM's security advisory indicates that the issue affects both version 10.1.0 and 10.1.1, suggesting a widespread problem within the product line that requires immediate remediation. The exposure occurs through the system's instrumentation logging framework which is designed for operational monitoring but fails to implement proper credential protection measures. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where backup and recovery systems contain sensitive data and are often targeted by sophisticated attackers. The plain text credential exposure could enable attackers to gain access to backup repositories and potentially compromise entire data ecosystems. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor separation of concerns in system design where operational monitoring capabilities are not properly isolated from security-sensitive operations. Organizations should implement immediate monitoring of log file access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts and should consider implementing additional log file access controls. The issue highlights the importance of secure logging practices and proper credential handling within backup and recovery systems, as these components often contain the most sensitive data within enterprise environments. This vulnerability also relates to CWE-200 which covers "Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor" and emphasizes the need for comprehensive information security controls throughout system architectures. The flaw represents a failure in the system's security by design approach where logging mechanisms are not properly secured against credential exposure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected IBM Spectrum Protect Plus installations to versions that address the credential exposure issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive log file access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized access to instrumentation logs containing sensitive information. The implementation of log sanitization procedures should be mandatory for all system components that may generate instrumentation logs containing user credentials or authentication tokens. Security teams should conduct regular audits of system logging configurations to ensure that sensitive information is not being stored in plain text formats. The vulnerability also necessitates a review of system access controls and privilege management to limit who can execute test operations that may trigger credential exposure. Organizations should implement automated log analysis tools that can identify and alert on the presence of plain text credentials within log files. The remediation process should include disabling or restricting test operations that may expose credentials unless absolutely necessary for system maintenance. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing centralized logging solutions with enhanced security controls that can prevent unauthorized access to sensitive operational data. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar issues in backup and recovery systems. Organizations should also implement comprehensive incident response procedures that include immediate credential rotation when exposure is detected. The fix for this vulnerability should be prioritized at the highest security level due to the potential for unauthorized access to backup systems and the sensitive data they contain. Proper implementation of these mitigations requires coordination between security teams, system administrators, and backup system operators to ensure complete remediation of the credential exposure vulnerability.