CVE-2019-4239 in MQ Advanced Cloud Pak
Summary
by MITRE
IBM MQ Advanced Cloud Pak (IBM Cloud Private 1.0.0 through 3.0.1) stores user credentials in plain in clear text which can be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 159465.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2023
IBM MQ Advanced Cloud Pak running on IBM Cloud Private versions 1.0.0 through 3.0.1 contains a critical configuration vulnerability where user credentials are stored in plaintext format within the system filesystem. This flaw represents a fundamental failure in credential management practices and violates security best practices established by industry standards including CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper storage of credentials. The vulnerability occurs at the configuration level where authentication tokens and user access credentials are persisted in unencrypted files, making them immediately accessible to any local user with filesystem access rights. This represents a severe privilege escalation vector that can be exploited by malicious actors who gain local access to the system, as demonstrated by the IBM X-Force ID 159465 which confirms the practical exploitability of this weakness. The operational impact extends beyond simple credential theft, as compromised credentials can provide attackers with persistent access to the messaging infrastructure, potentially enabling further lateral movement within the network and access to sensitive data flowing through the IBM MQ system. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 which covers "Credentials In Files" and represents a critical failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement. The flaw exists across multiple versions of IBM Cloud Private, indicating a systemic issue in the software configuration rather than a one-time coding error, which suggests that organizations running these versions face an elevated risk of credential compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to message queues, potentially intercepting or manipulating sensitive business communications, which could lead to data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations. The plaintext storage of credentials also violates fundamental security requirements established by NIST SP 800-63B and other authentication framework standards that mandate proper credential protection mechanisms. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including filesystem access controls, credential rotation procedures, and consideration of alternative authentication mechanisms that do not rely on plaintext storage. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure configuration management and proper credential handling practices, as it demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration oversights can create significant security weaknesses that persist across multiple software versions. This flaw requires immediate remediation through software updates, configuration hardening, and comprehensive credential management reviews to prevent exploitation and maintain the integrity of enterprise messaging infrastructure. The persistence of this vulnerability across multiple IBM Cloud Private versions indicates a need for enhanced security testing and validation procedures during software development lifecycle processes to prevent similar issues from occurring in future releases.