CVE-2019-4583 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.6.0.10 and 7.6.1.1 could allow an authenticated user to obtain sensitive information from a stack trace that could be used to aid future attacks. IBM X-Force ID: 167289.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2024
IBM Maximo Asset Management version 7.6.0.10 and 7.6.1.1 contains a vulnerability that exposes sensitive information through stack trace disclosure, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure flaws that can significantly impact system security posture. The flaw occurs when authenticated users access certain application components that fail to properly sanitize error responses, resulting in the exposure of internal system details including file paths, class names, and method calls within the application stack. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-209, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and represents a critical concern for enterprise asset management systems where sensitive operational data is processed. Attackers can leverage this information to understand the application architecture, identify potential weaknesses in the codebase, and plan more sophisticated attacks against the system. The stack trace information reveals internal implementation details that should remain hidden from end users and unauthorized parties.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user account within the Maximo environment, which reduces the attack surface compared to unauthenticated flaws but still poses significant risks. When the application encounters an error condition during processing, the error handling mechanism fails to properly filter or sanitize the stack trace output before displaying it to the user interface. This occurs in scenarios where the application processes requests that trigger exceptions, such as invalid input validation, database connectivity issues, or failed authentication attempts. The exposed information includes detailed Java stack traces with full class paths, method signatures, and potentially sensitive configuration details that can be used to map the application's internal structure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because Maximo Asset Management systems typically handle sensitive business data including asset records, maintenance schedules, and operational metrics that could be valuable to attackers. The IBM X-Force ID 167289 associated with this vulnerability indicates the severity and recognition within the security community.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate information disclosure to create long-term security implications for organizations using IBM Maximo. Attackers who obtain stack trace information can use it to craft targeted attacks against specific application components, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or system compromise. The leaked information enables threat actors to perform reconnaissance attacks that align with ATT&CK framework techniques such as T1069.001 for "Permission Groups Discovery" and T1082 for "System Information Discovery." Organizations may experience cascading security issues as attackers use the exposed information to identify other vulnerabilities within the same application ecosystem or related systems. The vulnerability also impacts compliance requirements, as exposure of internal system details may violate data protection regulations and industry standards such as those outlined in ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. The disclosed information could potentially be used to bypass security controls or exploit other weaknesses in the application's defense mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on proper error handling implementation and comprehensive logging practices. Organizations should implement custom error pages that do not expose stack trace information to end users while maintaining detailed server-side logging for legitimate troubleshooting purposes. The application configuration should be reviewed to ensure that error messages are sanitized before presentation to users, and that sensitive system information is not included in any error responses. Security teams should conduct regular code reviews to identify potential error handling vulnerabilities and implement automated testing procedures that verify error message sanitization. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block attempts to trigger error conditions that might expose stack traces. The remediation process should include updating to patched versions of IBM Maximo Asset Management where available, and implementing proper input validation to minimize the occurrence of error conditions that could trigger stack trace generation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that error handling mechanisms are functioning correctly and that no additional information disclosure vulnerabilities exist within the system.