CVE-2026-17468 in Documentation Offline
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2026
IBM Documentation Offline 1.0.0 through 1.4.1 could allow a remote attacker to forge valid session tokens due to the use of a hardcoded cryptographic key.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2026
This vulnerability exists in IBM Documentation Offline versions 1.0.0 through 1.4.1, where the software employs a hardcoded cryptographic key for session token generation. The flaw stems from improper implementation of cryptographic practices as outlined in CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak or hardcoded cryptographic keys that can be easily discovered and exploited by attackers. The hardcoded key creates a critical security weakness that allows remote adversaries to predict and forge valid session tokens without requiring authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application using a static cryptographic key embedded within the software code rather than generating dynamic keys or utilizing secure key management practices. This approach violates fundamental principles of secure cryptography and authentication mechanisms, making it possible for attackers to reverse engineer the token generation process and create unauthorized sessions. The flaw enables privilege escalation attacks as demonstrated in the attack pattern taxonomy under ATT&CK technique T1548.003, which covers abuse of credentials and session management weaknesses.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass as it compromises the entire session management system of the documentation offline application. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to protected content, potentially leading to data exposure, privilege escalation, and unauthorized modifications of documentation resources. The vulnerability affects all users who rely on the offline documentation system, creating a persistent security risk that remains active until the software is updated or patched.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through software updates provided by IBM, which would address the hardcoded key issue by implementing proper cryptographic key management practices. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect suspicious authentication patterns and session activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix should align with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and ensure that all future implementations follow secure coding practices that prevent the use of hardcoded credentials or cryptographic keys in applications.