CVE-2023-31003: IBM Security Access Manager Container Root Access Vulnerability

Overview

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system has identified a significant vulnerability, CVE-2023-31003, in the IBM Security Access Manager Container. This vulnerability could potentially impact any organization using IBM Security Verify Access Appliance 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.6.1 and IBM Security Verify Access Docker 10.0.6.1. By exploiting this flaw, a local user could gain root access to the system, bypassing necessary security protocols and potentially compromising system integrity or causing data leakage.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-31003
Severity: High, CVSS Score 8.4
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Root access, system compromise, and potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

IBM Security Verify Access Appliance | 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.6.1
IBM Security Verify Access Docker | 10.0.6.1

How the Exploit Works

The exploit takes advantage of improper access controls within the IBM Security Access Manager Container. An attacker with local access could manipulate these improper controls to escalate their privileges and gain root access. Root access would allow the attacker to manipulate the system at will, potentially compromising system integrity and causing data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

The conceptual example below demonstrates a potential method an attacker could use to exploit this vulnerability. It is not actual code but serves to illustrate how an attack might proceed.

# Initial user access
$ login -u user -p password
# Exploit improper access control
$ exploit_improper_control
# Gain root access
$ escalate_to_root

This example assumes that the attacker has valid user credentials and is already logged into the system. The attacker then uses a command (represented here as ‘exploit_improper_control’) to exploit the vulnerability and gain root access.
Please note that this is a highly simplified representation of how the attack might occur. In reality, the process would likely be more complex and require a deeper understanding of the system’s inner workings.

Mitigation Guidance

IBM has released a vendor patch to address this vulnerability. All users of the affected products should apply this patch as soon as possible to protect their systems. In the meantime, or in cases where applying the patch is not immediately possible, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. However, these measures are not a substitute for applying the vendor patch and should be considered temporary solutions.