CVE-2019-4145 in Security Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Access Manager 9.0.1 through 9.0.6 could reveal highly sensitive in specialized conditions to a local user which could be used in further attacks against the system. IBM X-Force ID: 158400.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2023
IBM Security Access Manager version 9.0.1 through 9.0.6 contains a local information disclosure vulnerability that allows authenticated local users to access highly sensitive data under specific conditions. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure flaws that can significantly impact system security posture. The flaw enables an attacker with local access to potentially extract confidential information that could serve as a foundation for subsequent attack vectors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the local user level, meaning that any user with legitimate access to the system could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized insight into system internals. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure, and represents a critical security gap that undermines the integrity of the access management system. The affected IBM Security Access Manager versions share a common architectural weakness that manifests when specific operational conditions are met, creating an attack surface that extends beyond typical user privileges. The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple data exposure, as the sensitive information revealed could include system configurations, authentication tokens, or other critical data elements that would enable more sophisticated attacks.
The technical implementation of this information disclosure vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and insufficient data sanitization within the local user context. When a local user executes specific operations or accesses particular system components, the application fails to properly restrict data access, resulting in the exposure of confidential information. This flaw operates through a combination of privilege escalation mechanisms and insufficient input validation that allows unauthorized data retrieval. The conditions under which this vulnerability manifests typically involve specific user sessions or system states where the access manager's security controls are bypassed or weakened. From a cyber threat perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1005, which covers data from local system, and T1082, which involves system information discovery. The attack vector leverages legitimate user access to exploit weaknesses in the application's security model, making detection particularly challenging since the activity appears normal from a user perspective. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture where local user privileges are not properly enforced against sensitive data access points.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly beyond the immediate information disclosure, as the sensitive data exposed could enable attackers to conduct more sophisticated attacks against the system infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access authentication credentials, system configurations, or other sensitive data that would facilitate further compromise of the security access manager environment. The exposure of such information could lead to privilege escalation attacks, lateral movement within the network, or even complete system takeover. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the fact that it affects a security product itself, meaning that the compromised system could provide attackers with insights into the organization's access control mechanisms and potentially reveal information about other systems within the same network environment. This creates a cascading effect where the initial information disclosure vulnerability becomes a stepping stone for more extensive security breaches. Organizations relying on IBM Security Access Manager for critical access control functions face significant risk, as this vulnerability could undermine their entire security infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected IBM Security Access Manager versions to address the underlying access control flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of local user activities and establish strict access controls to minimize the potential impact of local privilege abuse. The recommended approach includes applying the vendor-provided security fixes as soon as they become available, while simultaneously reviewing local user access permissions and implementing least-privilege principles. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any additional systems that might be affected by similar weaknesses in the broader IBM Security product suite. Network segmentation and enhanced logging capabilities should be implemented to detect anomalous local user behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability affects organizations that must maintain strict security controls and could impact audits related to information security governance. The mitigation process should also include user education about the risks of local privilege abuse and the importance of maintaining secure local system access. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring and privileged access management solutions to further reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access control enforcement within security infrastructure components.