CVE-2019-4194 in Jazz for Service Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Jazz for Service Management 1.1.3, 1.1.3.1, and 1.1.3.2 is missing function level access control that could allow a user to delete authorized resources. IBM X-Force ID: 159033.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2023
IBM Jazz for Service Management version 1.1.3 and its subsequent patches 1.1.3.1 and 1.1.3.2 contains a critical access control vulnerability that enables unauthorized users to perform resource deletion operations without proper authorization. This flaw represents a failure in the system's function level access control mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to bypass intended security boundaries and manipulate system resources. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions during delete operations, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where unauthenticated or low-privileged users can execute destructive actions against authorized resources within the service management environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests as a missing authorization check at the function level, where the system fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses adequate privileges to perform deletion operations on specific resources. This weakness aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing inadequate access control enforcement mechanisms that permit unauthorized access to system functions. The flaw operates at the application layer where user requests are processed without proper validation of the user's authorization context, potentially allowing attackers to exploit this gap through crafted requests or by leveraging existing user sessions with insufficient privilege controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it compromises the integrity and availability of service management resources within the IBM Jazz environment. Attackers could potentially delete critical configuration data, service catalog items, or operational records that are essential for maintaining service delivery continuity. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on the service management capabilities of IBM Jazz, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the platform. The risk is exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerability exists across multiple patch versions, indicating a persistent flaw in the access control implementation that was not adequately addressed through the incremental updates.
Organizations should immediately implement compensating controls including network segmentation to limit access to the affected system, enhanced monitoring of deletion operations, and comprehensive user access reviews to ensure proper privilege allocation. The recommended mitigations include applying the latest available patches from IBM, implementing additional authorization layers, and conducting thorough security assessments of the service management environment. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1485 Data Destruction, representing both credential abuse and malicious data manipulation. Security teams should also consider implementing automated alerting for unusual deletion patterns and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing unauthorized resource modifications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control design and the need for continuous security validation in enterprise service management platforms to prevent unauthorized operations that could compromise service delivery and data integrity.