CVE-2020-4385 in Verify Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Verify Gateway (IVG) 1.0.0 and 1.0.1 contains hard-coded credentials, such as a password or cryptographic key, which it uses for its own inbound authentication, outbound communication to external components, or encryption of internal data. IBM X-Force ID: 179266.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-4385 affects IBM Verify Gateway version 1.0.0 and 1.0.1, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the system to unauthorized access and potential data compromise. This issue stems from the inclusion of hard-coded credentials within the software implementation, which violates fundamental security principles and creates persistent attack vectors that remain unchangeable throughout the system's operational lifecycle. The presence of such credentials within the application code represents a significant deviation from secure coding practices and establishes a permanent weakness that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to the system's internal components and communication channels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the embedding of authentication credentials, passwords, or cryptographic keys directly into the source code or configuration files of the IBM Verify Gateway software. These hard-coded elements are used for multiple security functions including inbound authentication mechanisms that verify incoming requests, outbound communication protocols that establish connections with external components, and encryption processes that protect internal data assets. The flaw creates a situation where attackers who can access the application code or reverse engineer the software can immediately obtain valid credentials without needing to perform complex exploitation techniques or overcome additional security controls. This approach directly violates the principle of least privilege and secure credential management as outlined in industry standards such as the CWE-798 weakness category, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to compromise the entire security infrastructure of systems relying on IBM Verify Gateway for authentication and authorization services. Attackers can leverage these hard-coded credentials to establish persistent access to internal systems, intercept and manipulate communication between the gateway and external components, or decrypt sensitive data that should remain protected. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that depend on the gateway for identity verification and access control, as it undermines the fundamental security guarantees that these systems are designed to provide. The persistence of these credentials means that even after security patches are applied to other system components, the hard-coded elements remain vulnerable until the software is completely reinstalled or modified, creating a prolonged window of exposure for affected organizations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies focusing on credential rotation and system reconfiguration. The recommended approach involves replacing all hard-coded credentials with dynamically managed authentication mechanisms, implementing proper credential management systems, and conducting thorough code reviews to identify and eliminate similar security flaws throughout the software ecosystem. Security teams must also consider the broader implications of credential exposure and implement network segmentation, monitoring, and incident response procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 which covers the use of hard-coded credentials in software, and represents a clear violation of security best practices that organizations should address through comprehensive security assessments and remediation efforts. The incident underscores the critical importance of secure software development lifecycle practices and proper credential management protocols in preventing persistent security weaknesses that can compromise entire organizational infrastructures.