CVE-2019-4668 in UrbanCode Deploy
Summary
by MITRE
IBM UrbanCode Deploy (UCD) 7.0.4.0 stores user credentials in plain in clear text which can be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 171250.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2024
IBM UrbanCode Deploy version 7.0.4.0 contains a critical security flaw where user credentials are stored in plaintext format within the system's configuration files. This vulnerability represents a fundamental failure in credential management practices and exposes sensitive authentication data to unauthorized local access. The flaw allows any local user with access to the system to read stored credentials without proper authorization, creating a significant attack surface for privilege escalation and lateral movement within the deployment environment. This issue directly violates security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling. The vulnerability exists at the application level and affects the core authentication mechanisms of the UrbanCode Deploy platform, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on this tool for continuous deployment operations.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the application's configuration storage mechanism failing to encrypt or obfuscate sensitive credential data during the persistence process. When UCD stores user authentication details, it does not apply appropriate cryptographic protections or access controls, leaving passwords and authentication tokens in readable format on disk. This design flaw enables local privilege escalation attacks where attackers can simply examine the configuration files to extract credentials, potentially gaining access to additional systems and resources that rely on the same authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability impacts both administrative and regular user credentials, creating a comprehensive exposure across the entire deployment infrastructure. From an operational perspective, this weakness undermines the principle of least privilege and provides attackers with immediate access to critical deployment systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to maintain persistent access to the deployment environment and potentially compromise the entire software delivery pipeline. An attacker who gains local access to a system running UCD 7.0.4.0 can extract credentials and use them to access other systems, applications, or services that share the same authentication credentials. This creates a significant risk for organizations that use UrbanCode Deploy for managing complex deployment workflows across multiple environments, as the compromise of a single system can lead to widespread access to critical infrastructure. The vulnerability also affects the integrity of the deployment process, as attackers could potentially modify deployment configurations or inject malicious code into the delivery pipeline. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1555.003 for credentials from password stores and T1078 for valid accounts, creating a multi-layered attack vector that can persist across system reboots and user sessions.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to a patched version of IBM UrbanCode Deploy, applying the relevant IBM security patches, and implementing additional access controls on configuration files. System administrators should review file permissions and access controls on UCD configuration directories to limit local access to authorized personnel only. The implementation of proper credential management practices, including the use of encrypted credential stores and privileged access management solutions, should be considered as immediate remediation steps. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other systems that may be vulnerable to similar credential storage flaws, and implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security guidelines such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 for proper credential handling and storage practices within enterprise environments.