CVE-2020-4183 in Security Guardium
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium 11.1 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 174739.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2020
IBM Security Guardium version 11.1 contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, where the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The flaw exists in the web UI components that process user-supplied data without adequate sanitization mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through crafted input fields or parameters. The vulnerability specifically affects the web interface components that handle user interactions and data presentation, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited by attackers who gain access to the system through legitimate user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the intended functionality of the Guardium interface. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability enables attackers to execute JavaScript code within the context of a trusted session, potentially allowing them to access sensitive information, including user credentials, session tokens, and other confidential data. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to session hijacking, where attackers can impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to the security monitoring and management functions of the Guardium system. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Guardium for database security monitoring, as the compromised session could provide access to critical security information and operational controls.
The attack vector for this vulnerability typically involves crafting malicious input that gets rendered in the web interface without proper sanitization, allowing the injected JavaScript to execute in the browser of authenticated users. Attackers can leverage this weakness by embedding malicious scripts in forms, parameters, or other input fields that are subsequently displayed to users. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it operates within a trusted session context, meaning that successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to the full range of administrative functions available through the Guardium interface. This presents a significant risk to database security operations and monitoring capabilities, as the compromised system could be used to evade security controls or manipulate monitoring data.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data within the web interface, ensuring that any content rendered to users is properly sanitized to prevent script execution. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script injection attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security updates and patches from IBM should be applied immediately upon availability, as the vendor has acknowledged this vulnerability and provided remediation measures. Network segmentation and monitoring of web interface traffic can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while user education regarding the risks of clicking suspicious links or entering untrusted data into web applications can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper web application security controls and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in security infrastructure components.