CVE-2024-39733 in Datacap Navigator
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2024
IBM Datacap Navigator 9.1.5, 9.1.6, 9.1.7, 9.1.8, and 9.1.9 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 295972.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2024
IBM Datacap Navigator versions 9.1.5 through 9.1.9 contain a critical security flaw that violates fundamental principles of credential storage and handling. This vulnerability represents a clear violation of security best practices and industry standards such as those outlined in CWE-312, which specifically addresses the improper handling of sensitive information. The flaw occurs when user authentication credentials are stored in plain text format within the application's configuration files or storage mechanisms, making them immediately accessible to any local user with read permissions on the system. This type of vulnerability directly enables privilege escalation attacks and provides attackers with immediate access to sensitive authentication data that could be used to compromise additional system resources or escalate their access privileges.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture where authentication tokens and credentials are not properly encrypted or obfuscated during storage. This plain text storage mechanism creates an attack surface that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers the theft of credentials through unencrypted storage. The vulnerability affects multiple versions within the 9.1.x release series, indicating a persistent architectural issue that has not been adequately addressed in the software lifecycle. Local users with minimal privileges can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to authentication data that would normally be protected through proper encryption mechanisms. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as these stored credentials could provide access to backend systems, databases, or other applications that rely on the same authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations utilizing IBM Datacap Navigator in enterprise environments. When local users can access plain text credentials, it undermines the principle of least privilege and creates potential for insider threats or compromised local accounts to escalate their access to additional systems. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users share the same physical or virtual machines, as any user with local access can potentially read stored credentials. The risk is amplified when considering that these credentials may not be limited to the application itself but could extend to backend systems, databases, or other enterprise resources that rely on the same authentication infrastructure. Organizations implementing IBM Datacap Navigator in production environments face immediate risk of credential compromise that could lead to data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOX.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by reviewing and updating their local user access controls, implementing proper encryption for credential storage, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of their IBM Datacap Navigator deployments. The recommended approach involves upgrading to patched versions of the software where available, implementing additional access controls to limit local user privileges, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts to credential storage locations. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit local access to systems running IBM Datacap Navigator and establish regular audits of local user accounts and access permissions. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper credential management practices and demonstrates why organizations must implement comprehensive security controls that address both application-level and system-level security considerations. The flaw serves as a reminder of the critical importance of following security standards such as those defined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, which specifically address secure credential handling and storage practices to prevent exactly this type of exposure.