CVE-2018-1948 in Security Identity Governance
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Identity Governance and Intelligence 5.2 through 5.2.4.1 Virtual Appliance does not set the secure attribute on authorization tokens or session cookies. Attackers may be able to get the cookie values by sending a http:// link to a user or by planting this link in a site the user goes to. The cookie will be sent to the insecure link and the attacker can then obtain the cookie value by snooping the traffic. IBM X-Force ID: 153428.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1948 affects IBM Security Identity Governance and Intelligence virtual appliance versions 5.2 through 5.2.4.1, representing a critical security flaw in session management implementation. This issue falls under the category of insecure cookie handling, specifically the absence of the secure attribute on authorization tokens and session cookies. The vulnerability stems from the appliance's failure to properly configure session cookies with the secure flag, which is a fundamental security control designed to ensure that cookies are only transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections. Without this attribute, cookies can be intercepted and exploited by attackers who can capture the session tokens during network traffic interception or man-in-the-middle attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through several attack vectors that leverage the insecure transmission of session cookies over unencrypted HTTP connections. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP links and either directly send them to targeted users or embed them within compromised websites that users visit. When users click on these links or navigate to sites containing such malicious links, the browser automatically includes the session cookies in the HTTP request headers, even though the connection is unencrypted. This creates a scenario where network traffic can be monitored and analyzed using packet sniffing tools or network monitoring solutions, allowing attackers to extract the authorization tokens and session identifiers from the HTTP headers. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-614, which specifically addresses the insecure transmission of sensitive information through the use of HTTP instead of HTTPS, and represents a significant weakness in the application's authentication and session management protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking to encompass broader security implications for identity governance and intelligence systems. When attackers successfully capture session tokens through this method, they gain unauthorized access to the victim's authenticated sessions, potentially allowing them to perform privileged operations within the IBM Security Identity Governance and Intelligence environment. This includes accessing sensitive identity data, modifying user permissions, performing administrative functions, and potentially escalating privileges to gain full control over the identity governance system. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can remain active as long as users continue to interact with compromised web pages or receive malicious links, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently browse the internet or interact with external websites. Organizations may face significant compliance violations and security breaches when such vulnerabilities exist in identity management systems, as these platforms typically handle highly sensitive authentication and authorization data that is critical to enterprise security infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including enforcing mandatory HTTPS usage across all application interfaces and ensuring that all session cookies are configured with the secure attribute. The recommended approach involves configuring the virtual appliance to automatically redirect HTTP requests to HTTPS connections and implementing proper cookie security policies that include the secure flag, HttpOnly flag, and SameSite attributes. Additionally, network administrators should deploy web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious cookie transmission patterns and implement network segmentation to limit the attack surface. The mitigation strategy should also include user education programs to raise awareness about phishing attacks and malicious link identification, as well as regular security audits to ensure that all session management components are properly configured. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1566, which covers phishing techniques, and T1071, which addresses application layer protocol usage, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security teams to address through comprehensive security controls and monitoring procedures.