CVE-2020-4353 in MaaS360
Summary
by MITRE
IBM MaaS360 6.82 could allow a user with pysical access to the device to crash the application which may enable the user to access restricted applications and device settings. IBM X-Force ID: 178505.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2024
IBM MaaS360 version 6.82 contains a vulnerability that stems from inadequate input validation and privilege separation mechanisms within the mobile application management framework. The flaw specifically manifests when a malicious user with physical access to a managed device can trigger an application crash through crafted input or manipulation of the MaaS360 client interface. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and represents a critical weakness in the application's defensive design that fails to properly isolate user interactions from system-level operations. The root cause lies in the application's failure to implement robust sanitization of user inputs and insufficient access controls that would normally prevent unauthorized access to restricted functionalities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, creating a potential pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized device access. When the application crashes, the system's normal security boundaries may be compromised, allowing an attacker with physical possession to bypass standard authentication mechanisms and gain access to restricted applications and device settings. This scenario particularly concerns mobile device management environments where physical access represents a significant attack vector, as the vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor through which unauthorized users can exploit the device's management interface. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only physical access to the device, making it particularly dangerous in environments where devices may be lost or stolen, or where unauthorized personnel have access to managed devices.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which encompasses local privilege escalation and the exploitation of system vulnerabilities for unauthorized access. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient privilege separation where the application's crash handling mechanism fails to properly maintain security boundaries between different user contexts and system resources. Organizations implementing IBM MaaS360 should immediately assess their physical security controls and device management policies, as this vulnerability essentially undermines the integrity of the mobile device management ecosystem by allowing attackers to bypass the very protections that MaaS360 is designed to provide. The vulnerability demonstrates how mobile application management solutions can create false security assumptions when they fail to properly secure their own interfaces against physical access attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive device security measures including mandatory device encryption, secure boot mechanisms, and robust physical access controls. Organizations must also ensure that MaaS360 is updated to versions that address this specific vulnerability, as IBM has likely released patches to resolve the input validation and privilege separation issues. Network-level monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual application behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while device management policies should be updated to require additional authentication steps when applications crash or restart. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that mobile device management solutions must account for physical access threats and implement proper security boundaries even within their own application interfaces. Security teams should also consider implementing additional endpoint protection measures that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in mobile applications.