CVE-2016-0320 in UrbanCode Deploy
Summary
by MITRE
IBM UrbanCode Deploy could allow an authenticated user to modify Ucd objects due to multiple REST endpoints not properly authorizing users editing UCD objects. This could affect the behavior of legitimately triggered processes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2017
IBM UrbanCode Deploy represents a comprehensive application deployment automation platform that enables organizations to manage complex software release processes across distributed environments. The platform provides a centralized interface for orchestrating deployments, managing application versions, and controlling deployment workflows through its RESTful API endpoints. These endpoints serve as the primary communication channel for administrators and authorized users to interact with the deployment system, configure deployment processes, and manage various UCD objects including applications, environments, and deployment plans. The system's security model relies heavily on proper authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only legitimate users can modify critical deployment configurations and affect production environments.
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2016-0320 stems from insufficient authorization checks within multiple REST endpoints that handle UCD object modifications. Specifically, authenticated users can exploit this weakness to manipulate UCD objects without proper authorization validation, bypassing the intended access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized modifications. This flaw exists in the platform's API layer where REST endpoints that process object modifications fail to verify whether the authenticated user possesses the necessary privileges to perform the requested operations on specific UCD objects. The vulnerability manifests when legitimate users with valid credentials attempt to modify deployment configurations, application definitions, or environment settings through API calls that should require elevated permissions or specific role-based access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially compromising the integrity of deployment processes and system configurations. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could modify application deployment settings, alter environment configurations, or manipulate deployment workflows that would affect the behavior of legitimately triggered processes. This could result in unauthorized deployments, configuration changes that disrupt production environments, or the execution of unintended deployment sequences that might compromise system availability or data integrity. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on UrbanCode Deploy for their deployment automation, as it could enable malicious actors to undermine the controlled deployment practices that the platform is designed to enforce.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest available patches from IBM that address the authorization bypass in the affected REST endpoints. Network segmentation and API access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the UrbanCode Deploy API to unauthorized users. Implementing additional monitoring and logging of API calls can help detect unauthorized modifications to UCD objects. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and represents a significant risk in the context of the ATT&CK framework under the Privilege Escalation and Defense Evasion tactics. Organizations should also review their role-based access control configurations and ensure that the principle of least privilege is properly enforced for all API endpoints, particularly those handling critical deployment objects that could affect system behavior when modified without proper authorization.