CVE-2019-4280 in Sterling File Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0.0 through 6.0.1.0 displays sensitive information in HTTP requests which could be used in further attacks against the system. IBM X-Force ID: 160503.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-4280 affects IBM Sterling File Gateway versions 2.2.0.0 through 6.0.1.0, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive data within HTTP requests. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure data handling and can potentially enable attackers to gather intelligence about the system's internal operations and configuration details. The issue stems from the application's improper handling of sensitive information during HTTP communication, where confidential data becomes visible in request parameters or headers that are typically not intended for public exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly sanitize or mask sensitive information when processing HTTP requests. Attackers can exploit this weakness by monitoring network traffic or analyzing HTTP request patterns to extract confidential data such as authentication tokens, session identifiers, or system-specific configuration parameters. The exposure occurs during normal operational flows when the system processes incoming requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by both authenticated and unauthenticated attackers depending on the specific implementation details. This flaw aligns with CWE-200, which defines weaknesses related to information exposure, and represents a significant deviation from secure coding practices that require proper input validation and output sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked sensitive data can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can use the exposed information to conduct targeted attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, or privilege escalation within the system. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to map the system architecture, identify potential attack vectors, and develop more effective exploitation strategies. This weakness particularly affects environments where IBM Sterling File Gateway handles sensitive data transfers, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to compromise file transfer operations and data integrity.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network traffic monitoring to detect and block suspicious requests, proper input validation and sanitization of HTTP parameters, and enhanced logging mechanisms to track potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires updating to patched versions of IBM Sterling File Gateway where the information disclosure has been addressed through proper request handling and data masking. Security teams should also review system configurations to ensure that sensitive data is not inadvertently exposed through HTTP headers or parameters, and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of information leakage. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol tunneling, where attackers exploit information disclosure to gain deeper system insights. The incident highlights the critical need for comprehensive security testing and continuous monitoring of enterprise file transfer systems to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.