CVE-2019-4162 in Security Information Queue
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Information Queue (ISIQ) 1.0.0, 1.0.1, and 1.0.2 is missing the HTTP Strict Transport Security header. Users can navigate by mistake to the unencrypted version of the web application or accept invalid certificates. This leads to sensitive data being sent unencrypted over the wire. IBM X-Force ID: 158661.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2023
The IBM Security Information Queue version 1.0.0 through 1.0.2 suffers from a critical security flaw related to the absence of the HTTP Strict Transport Security header implementation. This vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on the platform for security information management and queue operations. The missing header represents a fundamental failure in the web application's security posture, leaving users exposed to various man-in-the-middle attack vectors. The vulnerability specifically affects the web interface components of the ISIQ platform, which are responsible for handling sensitive security data and communications.
The technical flaw manifests as the complete omission of the HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) header in the web application's HTTP responses. This header serves as a critical security mechanism that instructs web browsers to only communicate with the server using HTTPS connections and to automatically redirect any HTTP requests to HTTPS. Without this header, users can inadvertently access the web application through unencrypted HTTP connections, making them susceptible to various attack scenarios including session hijacking, credential theft, and data interception. The vulnerability allows for protocol downgrade attacks where malicious actors can force the browser to use unencrypted connections even when HTTPS is available.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data transmission risks to encompass serious security implications for organizations using IBM Security Information Queue. Sensitive security data, including but not limited to security alerts, threat intelligence feeds, and configuration information, could be transmitted in plaintext over the network. This creates opportunities for attackers to capture credentials, session tokens, and other confidential information during transmission. The vulnerability also enables certificate validation bypass attacks where users might unknowingly accept invalid certificates due to the lack of enforced secure communication protocols. Organizations relying on this platform for security operations face increased risk of unauthorized access and data compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the deployment of proper HSTS headers with appropriate configuration settings. The mitigation strategy must include setting the max-age parameter to a sufficiently high value, typically at least one year, and enabling the includeSubDomains directive to ensure comprehensive protection across all subdomains. Additionally, organizations should enforce automatic redirects from HTTP to HTTPS at the web server level and configure certificate validation policies that prevent users from accepting invalid certificates. The implementation should align with industry standards such as those outlined in CWE-311, which specifically addresses the absence of encryption for sensitive data, and follow ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and defense evasion. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that the HSTS implementation is properly configured and functioning as intended across all components of the IBM Security Information Queue platform.