CVE-2019-4650 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.6.1.1 is vulnerable to SQL injection. A remote attacker could send specially-crafted SQL statements, which could allow the attacker to view, add, modify or delete information in the back-end database. IBM X-Force ID: 170961.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2020
IBM Maximo Asset Management version 7.6.1.1 contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability that exposes the backend database to unauthorized access and manipulation. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's database query construction processes, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through carefully crafted input fields. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data that is directly incorporated into database queries without proper parameterization or escaping mechanisms, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass authentication and authorization controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious SQL payloads against the underlying database system, potentially gaining access to sensitive organizational data including asset information, maintenance records, user credentials, and operational metrics. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform unauthorized data manipulation operations such as SELECT queries to extract confidential information, INSERT operations to add malicious entries, UPDATE commands to modify existing records, and DELETE statements to remove critical data. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and business disruption. Organizations using this version of Maximo Asset Management face significant risks including data integrity violations, unauthorized system modifications, and potential regulatory compliance violations due to exposure of sensitive operational data. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of asset management operations, potentially causing service interruptions and compromising the reliability of critical infrastructure maintenance processes. Security teams must consider the potential for lateral movement within networks where this application is deployed, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with additional attack vectors.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by IBM, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, and conducting thorough input validation across all user-facing application interfaces. Database access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to limit the privileges of application accounts, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual database activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's T1071.004 technique for application layer protocol tunneling and T1046 for network service scanning. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls and identify additional security gaps within the Maximo environment.