CVE-2019-4745 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.6.1.0 could allow a remote attacker to disclose sensitive information to an authenticated user due to disclosing path information in the URL. IBM X-Force ID: 172883.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2024
IBM Maximo Asset Management version 7.6.1.0 contains a vulnerability that exposes path information through URL parameters, creating an information disclosure risk for authenticated users. This flaw allows a remote attacker to gather sensitive system details by analyzing the URL structure, potentially revealing internal file paths, directory structures, or other system-specific information that should remain confidential. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes requests that include path-related parameters in the URL, inadvertently exposing internal system paths to authenticated users who may not have proper authorization to access such information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the application's URL handling mechanisms. When authenticated users make requests to the Maximo Asset Management system, the application fails to properly sanitize or filter path information that may be included in URL parameters, resulting in the exposure of sensitive path data. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure flaws, which can provide attackers with valuable intelligence for planning more sophisticated attacks against the system. The flaw represents a deviation from secure coding practices where all user-supplied input should be carefully validated and sanitized before being processed or returned to the user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential attack vectors for more serious exploits. An attacker who successfully leverages this vulnerability can gain insights into the application's internal architecture, file system structure, and potentially identify other system components that may be vulnerable to additional attacks. This information disclosure can facilitate subsequent exploitation attempts, including directory traversal attacks, path manipulation, or other techniques that rely on understanding the underlying system structure. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Maximo Asset Management is deployed in production settings with multiple authenticated users, as the exposure of path information could enable privilege escalation or targeted attacks against specific system components.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls that sanitize all URL parameters containing path information, proper output encoding to prevent path disclosure in user-facing responses, and regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovering system information. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious URL patterns, conduct regular vulnerability assessments, and ensure proper access controls are maintained to limit the potential impact of such information disclosure vulnerabilities. Additionally, IBM has released patches and updates to address this specific vulnerability in later versions of Maximo Asset Management, making it crucial for organizations to apply these security updates promptly to maintain system integrity and prevent potential exploitation by malicious actors.