CVE-2019-4741 in Content Navigator
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Content Navigator 3.0CD is vulnerable to Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF). This may allow an unauthenticated attacker to send unauthorized requests from the system, potentially leading to network enumeration or facilitating other attacks. IBM X-Force ID: 172815.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2024
IBM Content Navigator version 3.0CD contains a critical server side request forgery vulnerability that enables unauthenticated attackers to forge requests from the vulnerable system. This flaw resides in the application's handling of remote resource requests, where insufficient input validation allows malicious actors to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially access internal network resources. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input that is used to construct requests to external systems. When the application processes these requests, it does not adequately restrict the destinations to which requests can be sent, creating an opportunity for attackers to redirect traffic to internal network services. This weakness can be exploited to enumerate network services, gather sensitive information about the internal infrastructure, or facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as internal network reconnaissance and lateral movement. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to leverage the application's trusted network position to access resources that would otherwise be protected by network segmentation and firewalls. According to the CWE database, this represents a classic server side request forgery vulnerability classified under CWE-918, which specifically addresses weaknesses in which applications fail to properly validate and restrict server-side requests to external resources. The attack pattern aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1071.004 sub-technique for application layer protocol tunneling. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can enable attackers to map internal network topology, identify running services, and potentially exploit other vulnerabilities within the internal network. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability from any network location without requiring valid credentials. IBM has identified this issue as a high severity risk that requires immediate attention and remediation. Organizations using this version of IBM Content Navigator should implement network segmentation controls and monitor for suspicious outbound traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability can be mitigated through proper input validation, implementing strict destination whitelisting for external requests, and deploying network-level controls to prevent unauthorized internal network access. Additionally, organizations should consider upgrading to a patched version of the software and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious request patterns. The security implications of this vulnerability underscore the importance of validating all external resource requests and maintaining strict controls over application network communication to prevent attackers from leveraging trusted application positions for unauthorized access to internal resources.