CVE-2019-4337 in Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere 11 could allow an attacker to obtain sensitive information due to missing authentication in Ignite nodes. IBM X-Force ID: 161412.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2023
IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere version 11 contains a critical security vulnerability that enables unauthenticated access to sensitive information through Ignite nodes. This vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the Ignite node implementation, which serves as a communication channel for automation processes. The flaw allows remote attackers to access confidential data without proper authorization, potentially exposing sensitive business processes, credentials, and operational details that should remain protected within the automation framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the Ignite node architecture where authentication checks are either absent or improperly configured. This creates an attack surface where malicious actors can exploit the missing authentication controls to establish unauthorized connections and extract information from the automation environment. The vulnerability specifically affects the communication protocols used by Ignite nodes, which are designed to facilitate seamless integration between different automation components but fail to enforce proper access controls.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere 11. Attackers could potentially access automated workflows, extract business-critical data, compromise sensitive processes, and gain insights into organizational automation strategies. The exposure of information through unauthenticated access points creates opportunities for data breaches, process manipulation, and potential escalation to more severe security incidents. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations and reputational damage if sensitive information is compromised through this vulnerability.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-306 (Missing Authentication) and represents a critical weakness in the authentication framework of the automation platform. This weakness enables attackers to perform unauthorized information disclosure attacks that fall under the ATT&CK technique T1074 (Data Staged) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) where adversaries can discover and access sensitive information through network-based attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate automation components, deployment of firewall rules to restrict access to Ignite node ports, and application of the vendor-provided security patches. Additional defensive measures should include monitoring for unauthorized network connections to automation services and implementing robust access control policies that enforce proper authentication mechanisms for all communication channels within the robotic process automation environment.