CVE-2019-4072 in Tivoli Storage Productivity Center
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Storage Productivity Center (IBM Spectrum Control Standard Edition 5.2.1 through 5.2.17) allows users to remain idle within the application even when a user has logged out. Utilizing the application back button users can remain logged in as the current user for a short period of time, therefore users are presented with information for Spectrum Control Application. IBM X-Force ID: 157064.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-4072 affects IBM Tivoli Storage Productivity Center, specifically the IBM Spectrum Control Standard Edition versions 5.2.1 through 5.2.17. This security flaw represents a session management weakness that undermines the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms. The issue stems from improper session termination when users log out of the system, creating a window where authenticated sessions can be inadvertently reused through navigation history manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's handling of browser navigation and session state management. When users log out of the Spectrum Control application, the system fails to properly invalidate the session tokens or clear the browser's navigation cache, allowing attackers to leverage the browser's back button functionality to access previously authenticated pages. This behavior creates a temporary session hijacking scenario where the application continues to present sensitive data and functionality as if the user were still logged in, despite the actual logout event.
From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using IBM Spectrum Control Standard Edition. The persistent access to administrative functions and storage management data after logout creates potential for unauthorized information disclosure and privilege escalation. Attackers could potentially access sensitive storage configurations, performance metrics, backup schedules, and other operational data that should only be available to authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where storage management systems contain critical business data and where unauthorized access to storage configurations could lead to data loss or system compromise.
The flaw aligns with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session expiration, and demonstrates characteristics similar to those categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through session hijacking. The vulnerability can be exploited through simple user interaction using the browser's navigation controls, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no specialized tools or advanced technical knowledge. Organizations implementing IBM Spectrum Control Standard Edition should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks, particularly in relation to their overall security posture and compliance requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-4072 should focus on implementing proper session management controls within the application. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for IBM Spectrum Control Standard Edition. Additionally, implementing browser-level session management policies, such as disabling browser caching for authenticated pages, setting appropriate session timeout values, and implementing proper session invalidation upon logout can help reduce the attack surface. Network-level controls including web application firewalls and monitoring systems should be configured to detect and alert on suspicious navigation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of storage management systems should include verification of session management controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the environment.