IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM) v4.1, v4.1.1, v4.2., and v4.2.1 contain a security vulnerability that could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information in cleartext in a communication channel. This critical flaw, identified as CVE-2024-49819, puts the sensitive data at risk by potentially exposing it to unauthorized actors who can sniff the data.

In this long read post, we will delve into the details of the CVE-2024-49819 vulnerability, including code snippets, original references, and exploit information. This will help security professionals and developers understand this threat, and take the necessary precautions to prevent such risks in their implementations.

Vulnerability Details

The CVE-2024-49819 vulnerability exists in the implementation of IBM SKLM, which may fail to encrypt data during transmission. This results in sensitive information being transmitted in cleartext format over the network, making it susceptible to interception by unauthorized actors.

An attacker could leverage this vulnerability by intercepting the communication channel and obtaining sensitive data, which may include encryption keys, cryptographic materials, or secrets in the IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager.

Code Snippet

Here's a simplified version of the affected code in IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager (of course, the actual implementation may differ):

import socket

def insecure_connection(data):
    # Vulnerable communication channel
    server_address = "XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX"  # Server IP Address
    server_port = 12345                 # Server Port

    sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
    sock.connect((server_address, server_port))

    try:
        sock.sendall(data)    # Sensitive data sent in cleartext over the communication channel
    finally:
        sock.close()

# Sample call
sensitive_data = b'Sensitive Information'
insecure_connection(sensitive_data)

The code above demonstrates that the sensitive data (in this case, sensitive_data variable) is sent over the communication channel without any encryption in place.

Original References

IBM has acknowledged the vulnerability in its security advisory and has assigned the vulnerability a CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) score of 5.3, indicating a medium level of severity.

- IBM Security Bulletin

Additionally, the National Vulnerability Database (NIST) entry for CVE-2024-49819 can be found here

- NIST National Vulnerability Database

Exploit Details

While there are no publicly disclosed specific exploits targeting this vulnerability, attackers may use various techniques to intercept and sniff the cleartext data transmitted over the vulnerable communication channel.

These techniques are similar to man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, which generally involve eavesdropping and modifying the data between two parties that communicate with each other. Tools such as Wireshark, tcpdump, and Ettercap can be used to capture and analyze network traffic, potentially exposing the sensitive information transmitted over the affected communication channel.

To mitigate this vulnerability, IBM has provided a software update and recommends that users apply the necessary patches to their SKLM installations:

- IBM Key Lifecycle Manager 4.1.2 - Download Link
- IBM Key Lifecycle Manager 4.2.2 - Download Link

Conclusion

The CVE-2024-49819 vulnerability poses a significant risk to the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive data managed by IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager. It is crucial for businesses and developers that use SKLM to stay informed about this vulnerability, its impacts, and the appropriate mitigation strategies.

Updating the vulnerable SKLM installations to the patches provided by IBM is necessary to ensure the security of sensitive data and protect it from potential unauthorized access. In addition, organizations should continuously monitor their networks for suspicious activity, and implement strong encryption and secure communication channels to mitigate the risk of data exposure.

Timeline

Published on: 12/17/2024 18:15:24 UTC