CVE-2019-4155 in API Connect
Summary
by MITRE
IBM API Connect's Developer Portal 2018.1 and 2018.4.1.3 is impacted by a privilege escalation vulnerability when integrated with an OpenID Connect (OIDC) user registry. IBM X-Force ID: 158544.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-4155 affects IBM API Connect's Developer Portal versions 2018.1 and 2018.4.1.3 when configured with OpenID Connect user registry integration. This privilege escalation vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that allows authenticated users to gain elevated privileges within the system. The issue stems from improper access control mechanisms that fail to adequately validate user permissions when the portal interacts with external OIDC identity providers, creating a pathway for unauthorized privilege elevation.
The technical flaw manifests in the portal's handling of user authentication and authorization processes when integrating with OIDC registries. Specifically, the system does not properly enforce role-based access controls during the authentication flow, allowing malicious actors who have obtained valid credentials through the OIDC integration to potentially escalate their privileges. This occurs because the portal's access control logic fails to maintain proper session boundaries and authorization checks when transitioning between different user roles or permissions managed by the external OIDC provider. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the authentication and authorization layer, potentially enabling attackers to bypass normal security controls that should prevent users from accessing restricted functionality or data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to perform actions that should be restricted to administrators or specific user roles. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive API management functionality, modify portal configurations, view restricted content, or even gain access to underlying system resources that should remain protected. This risk is amplified in environments where the Developer Portal serves as a central hub for API management and developer access, as the compromised portal could provide attackers with elevated access to the entire API ecosystem. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on integrated identity management solutions, where the trust relationship between the portal and external identity providers creates an additional attack surface that can be exploited through this privilege escalation vector.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of IBM API Connect Developer Portal, reviewing and strengthening OIDC integration configurations, and implementing additional access control measures such as multi-factor authentication and enhanced monitoring of privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and represents a significant concern from an ATT&CK perspective under privilege escalation techniques. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their OIDC integrations, review user permission mappings, and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, organizations should enhance their logging and monitoring capabilities to detect anomalous privilege escalation activities and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this class of vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated configurations to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in legitimate user access patterns while maintaining the security posture of the integrated system.