CVE-2019-13656 in Client Automation
Summary
by MITRE
An access vulnerability in CA Common Services DIA of CA Technologies Client Automation 14 and Workload Automation AE 11.3.5, 11.3.6 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13656 represents a critical access control flaw within CA Technologies Client Automation platforms, specifically affecting CA Common Services DIA components. This vulnerability exists in version 14 of Client Automation and Workload Automation AE versions 11.3.5 and 11.3.6, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited remotely by malicious actors. The flaw stems from inadequate authentication and authorization mechanisms that fail to properly validate user credentials and access privileges before granting system access. This weakness allows unauthorized remote attackers to bypass normal security controls and gain elevated privileges within the affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the DIA (Dynamic Integration Architecture) component of CA Common Services, which serves as a critical communication and integration layer for the automation platforms. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting specially crafted requests that manipulate the authentication flow or by leveraging existing credentials to escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability specifically affects how the system processes access requests and validates user permissions, creating a pathway for code execution that bypasses standard security boundaries. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability that can be classified under CWE-284, which deals with improper access control mechanisms, and falls within the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation category.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-13656 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables full code execution capabilities that can result in complete system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malware, modify critical system files, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. Organizations using affected CA Technologies platforms face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the systems or network proximity, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where automation platforms control critical business processes and infrastructure management functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including applying the official patches provided by CA Technologies, which address the underlying authentication and authorization flaws. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate affected systems and monitor network traffic for suspicious activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software versions and ensure proper access controls are implemented. Additional protective measures include implementing multi-factor authentication, regularly reviewing access logs for unauthorized activities, and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle remote code execution vulnerabilities. The remediation process must also include thorough testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to avoid potential service disruptions. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader security posture assessment, as it highlights potential weaknesses in the overall automation and orchestration infrastructure that may require additional security hardening measures.