CVE-2019-4564 in Security Key Lifecycle Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager 2.6, 2.7, 3.0, and 3.0.1 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2024
IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager versions 2.6, 2.7, 3.0, and 3.0.1 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web applications. The flaw allows authenticated users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code within the web interface, effectively bypassing the application's input validation mechanisms and potentially compromising the integrity of the user session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the web UI components of the security key management system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get executed in the context of other users' browsers who visit affected pages. The vulnerability specifically targets the web interface's handling of user-provided data, which is then rendered back to users without proper HTML encoding or script filtering. This creates a persistent XSS vector that can be leveraged to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially escalate privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it can lead to complete session hijacking and credential theft within trusted user sessions. When an authenticated user visits a page containing malicious JavaScript, the script can access session cookies, form data, and other sensitive information that the browser has stored. This represents a significant threat to the security posture of organizations relying on IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager, as it allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to key management functionalities. The vulnerability essentially undermines the trust model of the application by enabling attackers to execute code in the context of authenticated sessions.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigations include implementing strict content security policies that prevent script execution, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and ensuring all user-supplied input undergoes proper sanitization before being rendered in the web interface. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments and maintain up-to-date patches for the IBM Security Key Lifecycle Manager components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shells and malicious script injection, making it a critical target for defensive measures and incident response procedures.