CVE-2024-49817 - Vulnerability in IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager Allows Privileged Access to User Credentials in Configuration Files

CVE-2024-49817 refers to a vulnerability in IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM) versions 4.1, 4.1.1, 4.2., and 4.2.1. The issue resides in the application's storage mechanism for user credentials in configuration files. The vulnerability allows a local privileged attacker to gain access to sensitive information, such as passwords, that are stored in plaintext within these configuration files.

Technical Details

IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM) is an enterprise-class, key management solution designed to help organizations simplify the encryption key management process. The application provides a secure, centralized store for encryption keys used by various components of the enterprise network.

The vulnerability (CVE-2024-49817) is related to the storage of user credentials within configuration files in SKLM. The credentials are stored in plaintext format and can be read by a local privileged user. This vulnerability could potentially allow malicious actors to exploit the saved credentials and gain unauthorized access to the sensitive data that is secured with those keys.

Code Snippet

The configuration file (e.g., config.ini) containing the sensitive information may appear similar to the following:

[Default]
username=example-user
password=plaintext-password123
url=https://example-url:8443

In this example, the username and password fields contain plaintext values that can be easily accessed by a privileged user.

Exploit Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have access to a local account with sufficient privileges on the affected system. Once access is obtained, the attacker can navigate to the location where the configuration files are stored, such as /opt/ibm/guardium/sklm/config/. When the attacker discovers the files containing plaintext credentials, they can either use these credentials to access other components of the encryption key management system or leverage the credentials for other malicious actions (e.g., privilege escalation, lateral movement, etc.).

Original References

IBM has acknowledged the vulnerability and released a security bulletin detailing the issue, along with the affected product versions.

For more details about the vulnerability, please refer to the CVE-2024-49817 entry in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database.

Mitigation and Solutions

IBM has provided a patch to address this vulnerability for SKLM versions 4.1, 4.1.1, 4.2., and 4.2.1. It is highly recommended to update the affected systems promptly to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.

In addition to applying the patch, organizations can take the following precautionary measures

1. Monitor user activity and restrict access to the configuration files containing sensitive information.

Implement security protocols for proper handling and storage of sensitive data and credentials.

3. Educate employees about the importance of security best practices and respond promptly to identified vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-49817 is a vulnerability affecting IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager. It allows privileged access to user credentials in configuration files and could be exploited by attackers to gain access to sensitive data. Organizations using affected versions of SKLM must act promptly to apply the patch and adopt necessary security measures to protect their encryption key management systems.

Timeline

Published on: 12/17/2024 18:15:23 UTC