CVE-2024-49817 - Weak Credential Storage in IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager (4.1

In June 2024, a new security issue surfaced impacting IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM) versions 4.1, 4.1.1, 4.2., and 4.2.1. Tracked as CVE-2024-49817, this vulnerability lets local privileged users access sensitive credentials stored in clear-text configuration files. In this exclusive article, we unravel how the flaw works, show you real configuration samples, and provide you with resources to learn more and stay secure.

What is Guardium SKLM and Who’s at Risk?

IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager (SKLM) manages encryption keys and certificates for security-conscious enterprises. Like most enterprise software, it keeps sensitive information—like usernames and passwords—for database or LDAP connections in its configuration files.

But, as highlighted by CVE-2024-49817, SKLM’s credentials are sometimes stored in plain text, meaning anyone with privileged (root/administrator) access can just read them. This is NOT a remote exploit: You need server access, but on shared systems or inside organizations with multiple admins/ops, this is a big deal.

Where Does The Risk Come From?

SKLM is installed on Windows or Linux servers, typically living in secure data centers. However, if attackers (internal or external) gain local privileged access, they can browse SKLM’s configuration folder and read plaintext credentials. These could be usernames/passwords for databases, LDAP directories, or other services integrated with SKLM.

How Does The Vulnerability Work?

The root of CVE-2024-49817 is simple: SKLM stores credentials in configuration files without encrypting them. Because the SKLM service needs them at startup and no master password is prompted, the designers saved them in cleartext for easy reading by the application—forgetting that local users could read them, too.

Example Path for Config Files (default installation folders)

- Linux: /opt/IBM/Guardium/Key_Lifecycle_Manager/config/

Windows: C:\IBM\Guardium\Key_Lifecycle_Manager\config\

Commonly Exposed File:
File names can vary, but some include sklmConfig.properties or dbConfig.properties.

The dangerous line in the config file usually looks like this

# dbConfig.properties - LOCAL PRIVILEGED USERS CAN READ THIS
db.username=sklm_admin
db.password=SuperSecretPassword123

Or, for LDAP integration

ldap.adminUser=cn=admin,dc=example,dc=com
ldap.adminPassword=AnotherSecretPa55

A local (even non-SKLM) admin could just cat, notepad, or type these files and copy the passwords.

Proof-of-Concept: How an Attacker Might Grab the Credentials

Suppose a malicious sysadmin or someone with root-equivalent access wants to exfiltrate the credentials. The following is how simple it could be.

On Linux

cd /opt/IBM/Guardium/Key_Lifecycle_Manager/config
cat dbConfig.properties

Output

db.username=sklm_admin
db.password=SuperSecretPassword123

Or to grab just the password

grep password dbConfig.properties

On Windows

Get-Content 'C:\IBM\Guardium\Key_Lifecycle_Manager\config\dbConfig.properties' | Select-String 'password'

Output

db.password=SuperSecretPassword123

Who Can Exploit This?

This isn’t a remote code execution (RCE) issue, but on shared or managed infrastructure, domain admins, server teams, or others with access to the SKLM box could read these secrets and potentially connect to SKLM’s backend or other critical services—possibly attacking further into your infrastructure.

Real-World Scenarios

- Cloud or datacenter servers with multiple ops/admin personnel

Managed service environments

- Host-compromised scenarios (e.g., malware already running as local admin/root)

Vertical Movement: Access credentials can enable further privilege escalation

- Compliance Risks: Cleartext credential storage is often a violation of compliance standards (PCI DSS, HIPAA, etc.)

What is IBM Doing? Is There a Patch?

IBM published an official advisory describing the issue and recommending mitigation steps. As of June 2024, customers should:

Upgrade: Check for and apply security-fixed versions from IBM

- Restrict file permissions: Lock down who can access SKLM configuration folders/files

Official References

- IBM Advisory: IBM Security Guardium Key Lifecycle Manager Vulnerable to Plaintext Credential Storage (CVE-2024-49817)
- NIST CVE Record: CVE-2024-49817 - NIST

Conclusion and Recommendations

CVE-2024-49817 reminds us that even highly trusted security software can slip up when it comes to local secrets storage. If you’re running IBM Guardium SKLM, don’t ignore the local admins—even insiders can be a risk. Act now:

Consult IBM for encryption best practices

Stay vigilant—internal attacks are often the hardest to stop, and security software that stores passwords in plain text should always be on your radar.

*This coverage is exclusive to your inquiry. For more insights, see the official IBM and NIST links above and subscribe for regular security bulletins.*

Timeline

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