CVE-2019-4566 in Security Key Lifecycle Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager 3.0 and 3.0.1 stores user credentials in plain in clear text which can be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 166627.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2023
IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager version 3.0 and 3.0.1 contains a critical security flaw that allows local users to access stored credentials in plain text format. This vulnerability represents a significant weakness in the system's credential storage mechanism and falls under the category of insecure credential storage as defined by CWE-312. The flaw enables unauthorized local access to sensitive authentication information that should be protected through proper encryption or obfuscation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly secure user authentication data during storage operations. When credentials are saved within the system, they are maintained in an unencrypted format that can be directly accessed by any user with local system privileges. This represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security architecture practices. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation scenarios where local attackers can easily extract authentication information without requiring additional exploitation techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates severe risk for organizations relying on IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager for credential management. Local users with access to the system can immediately obtain administrative or user credentials, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as these stolen credentials can be used to access additional systems and resources within the network perimeter. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1555.003 which covers credentials from password stores and T1078 which covers valid accounts.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager, implementing additional access controls to limit local system access, and conducting comprehensive credential rotation exercises. The remediation process should include thorough system auditing to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized local access attempts and credential access patterns. Proper security configuration management and regular vulnerability assessments should be enforced to prevent similar issues in other system components. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and proper credential handling procedures as outlined in industry security frameworks and standards.