CVE-2019-4697 in Security Guardium Data Encryption
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption (GDE) 3.0.0.2 stores user credentials in plain in clear text which can be read by an authenticated user. IBM X-Force ID: 171938.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2020
IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption version 3.0.0.2 contains a critical security flaw where user credentials are stored in plain text format within the system. This vulnerability represents a significant weakness in the platform's credential management architecture, as it allows any authenticated user with access to the system to read sensitive authentication information without requiring additional privileges or decryption mechanisms. The flaw exists at the storage level where authentication credentials are not properly encrypted or obfuscated, creating an attack surface that violates fundamental security principles for credential handling.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate credential storage practices within the Guardium Data Encryption framework. When users authenticate to the system, their credentials are written to storage without proper encryption, leaving them accessible in clear text format. This design flaw allows for privilege escalation scenarios where authenticated users can access not only their own credentials but potentially those of other users within the system. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in credential storage mechanisms and aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling. From an operational perspective, this flaw significantly undermines the security posture of organizations relying on Guardium for data encryption, as it creates an internal threat vector that can be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised legitimate users.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it enables potential lateral movement within the system and could facilitate more extensive attacks. An authenticated user with access to the credential storage areas can extract user credentials and potentially use them to access other systems or services that share the same authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including credential access through credential dumping and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to sensitive information. The risk is particularly concerning for organizations that implement zero trust security models, as this flaw creates a persistent backdoor for credential theft that can be exploited without requiring external network access or advanced exploitation techniques. The vulnerability also impacts compliance requirements under frameworks such as pci dss and hipaa, which mandate proper protection of sensitive authentication information.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including restricting access to credential storage areas through strict access controls and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. System administrators should review and implement proper credential rotation procedures, ensuring that compromised credentials are invalidated promptly when detected. The recommended approach involves implementing proper encryption of credential storage, utilizing secure key management practices, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities across the platform. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate credential theft attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices for credential management and demonstrates the critical need for proper encryption of sensitive data at rest, as required by various security standards and frameworks including iso 27001 and nist cybersecurity framework.