CVE-2025-2898 in Maximo Application Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 05/06/2025
IBM Maximo Application Suite 9.0 could allow an attacker with some level of access to elevate their privileges due to a security configuration vulnerability in Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) configurations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2025
IBM Maximo Application Suite version 9.0 contains a security configuration vulnerability that enables privilege escalation for attackers who already possess some level of access to the system. This vulnerability resides within the Role-Based Access Control mechanisms that govern user permissions and system access. The flaw stems from improper configuration of RBAC policies that fail to adequately enforce access restrictions, allowing authenticated users to potentially bypass intended security boundaries. The vulnerability specifically affects the authorization controls that determine what actions users can perform within the Maximo environment, creating opportunities for attackers to escalate their privileges from limited user access to administrative or elevated permissions. This issue represents a critical weakness in the application's security architecture where the underlying access control model does not properly validate user entitlements or enforce mandatory access controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and it can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify critical system configurations, or perform administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it undermines the fundamental security model of the application suite, potentially allowing attackers to move laterally within the system and compromise additional resources. Organizations utilizing IBM Maximo 9.0 should immediately assess their current RBAC configurations and implement proper access control measures to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust access control policies and regularly auditing security configurations to ensure that the principle of least privilege is properly enforced. System administrators must review all user roles and permissions to identify potential misconfigurations that could enable privilege escalation attacks. The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly concerning given that Maximo is commonly used for enterprise asset management and critical infrastructure operations where unauthorized access could result in significant operational disruption or data compromise. Organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect suspicious access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The flaw highlights the necessity of proper security configuration management and the importance of validating access control implementations through thorough security testing and code reviews. Mitigation efforts should focus on strengthening RBAC policies, enforcing stricter access validation controls, and ensuring that all user entitlements are properly audited and validated against organizational security requirements. This vulnerability underscores the critical need for organizations to maintain up-to-date security configurations and to regularly validate that their access control mechanisms function as intended. The issue also emphasizes the importance of security awareness training for system administrators who configure and manage access controls within enterprise applications. Proper implementation of security controls requires ongoing attention to access management policies and regular assessment of potential security gaps that could be exploited by determined attackers. Organizations should also consider implementing automated tools to continuously monitor access control configurations and alert administrators to potential misconfigurations that could lead to privilege escalation opportunities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even applications with robust security features can be compromised by misconfigurations in their access control implementations, making regular security assessments and configuration reviews essential components of any comprehensive security program.