CVE-2022-35646 in Security Verify Governance
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2022
IBM Security Verify Governance, Identity Manager 10.0.1 software component could allow an authenticated user to modify or cancel any other user's access request using man-in-the-middle techniques. IBM X-Force ID: 231096.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-35646 affects IBM Security Verify Governance and Identity Manager version 10.0.1, representing a critical authentication and authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of identity management systems. This weakness enables authenticated users to exploit man-in-the-middle techniques to manipulate access requests belonging to other users, fundamentally compromising the integrity and confidentiality of identity governance processes. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of access request modifications and lack of proper session management during request processing, creating an avenue for privilege escalation and unauthorized data manipulation within the identity management infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of communication channels between the identity management system and its clients, where authenticated users can intercept and alter requests intended for other users. This flaw operates through the exploitation of weak cryptographic protections and inadequate request validation mechanisms, allowing attackers to modify request parameters or cancel requests entirely. The man-in-the-middle attack vector specifically targets the transmission of access request data, where the attacker can modify request identifiers, status changes, or other critical attributes without proper authorization checks. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-319 - Cryptographic Issues, specifically addressing weaknesses in the protection of data in transit, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing via Service Provider for credential theft and T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS for potential exploitation of identity management protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass significant risks to organizational security and compliance. Organizations relying on IBM Security Verify Governance for identity management face potential unauthorized access to sensitive systems, disruption of legitimate access workflows, and compromise of audit trails that are critical for regulatory compliance. The ability to cancel or modify other users' access requests creates opportunities for attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems, prevent legitimate users from accessing required resources, or manipulate access control decisions. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to privilege escalation scenarios where attackers can assume roles or permissions of other users within the identity management domain, potentially leading to broader system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-35646 should prioritize immediate implementation of strong cryptographic protections and enhanced session management protocols. Organizations must ensure all communications between identity management components are protected through robust encryption mechanisms such as TLS 1.3 with strong cipher suites, and implement proper certificate validation procedures to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous access request modifications and unauthorized session activities. The implementation of multi-factor authentication for identity management systems, along with regular security assessments and penetration testing, will help identify similar vulnerabilities in the authentication and authorization infrastructure. Additionally, organizations should establish strict access controls and audit logging for all access request modifications, implementing automated alerts for suspicious activities. IBM has released patches and updates addressing this vulnerability, and organizations should promptly apply these fixes while conducting thorough security reviews of their identity management configurations to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in the broader attack surface.