CVE-2020-4173 in Guardium Activity Insights
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Guardium Activity Insights 10.6 and 11.0 does not set the secure attribute on authorization tokens or session cookies. Attackers may be able to get the cookie values by sending a http:// link to a user or by planting this link in a site the user goes to. The cookie will be sent to the insecure link and the attacker can then obtain the cookie value by snooping the traffic. IBM X-Force ID: 174682.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2020
IBM Guardium Activity Insights versions 10.6 and 11.0 contain a critical security flaw that undermines the protection of authentication tokens and session cookies through the absence of the secure attribute in their implementation. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak session management and cookie security practices, specifically aligning with CWE-614, which addresses the insecure storage of sensitive information in cookies. The flaw occurs when the system fails to properly configure session cookies with the secure flag, allowing attackers to intercept authentication tokens transmitted over unencrypted HTTP connections. This weakness creates an attack surface that enables man-in-the-middle and cross-site scripting attacks, as demonstrated by the specific threat vector where attackers can craft malicious http:// links to trick users into visiting compromised sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for cookie transmission over insecure channels, making it possible for attackers to capture session identifiers through traffic snooping when users navigate to malicious sites or receive crafted links via phishing campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the authentication system within IBM Guardium Activity Insights. When session cookies lack the secure attribute, they become vulnerable to interception during transmission, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive database monitoring and security analytics data that the system is designed to protect. Attackers can exploit this weakness by placing malicious links on compromised websites or by using social engineering techniques to direct users to attack vectors where the cookie values are transmitted over HTTP connections. The IBM X-Force ID 174682 further validates the severity of this issue, indicating that the vulnerability has been recognized and tracked within the security community. This flaw directly violates the principle of secure communication protocols and creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to database activity monitoring systems, potentially leading to data breaches or unauthorized surveillance of database operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate configuration issues and broader security posture improvements. Organizations should immediately implement the secure attribute on all session cookies and authentication tokens within the IBM Guardium Activity Insights environment, ensuring that all cookies are transmitted only over encrypted HTTPS connections. The implementation should follow the principle of least privilege and include proper cookie security headers such as HttpOnly, SameSite, and secure flags to prevent cross-site scripting and session hijacking attacks. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect and prevent transmission of sensitive cookies over unencrypted channels, while conducting regular security assessments to identify any additional cookie-related vulnerabilities. This remediation effort aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering attacks that leverage credential theft through malicious links and web-based attacks. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated security scanning tools to continuously monitor for insecure cookie configurations and ensure compliance with security standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, which mandate proper session management and secure communication protocols for protecting sensitive information systems.