CVE-2020-4459 in Security Verify Access
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Verify Access 10.7 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: 181395.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-4459 affects IBM Security Verify Access version 10.7 and represents a critical security flaw involving hard-coded credentials within the software implementation. This issue manifests as the presence of static passwords or cryptographic keys embedded directly within the application code or configuration files, creating a persistent security risk that undermines the system's overall security posture. The affected component utilizes these hard-coded credentials for multiple security functions including inbound authentication processes, outbound communications with external systems, and encryption of internal data repositories.
From a technical perspective, the presence of hard-coded credentials violates fundamental security principles and represents a direct violation of the CWE-798 weakness category, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software. The vulnerability allows unauthorized parties to gain access to the system without proper authentication mechanisms, as these credentials remain unchanged regardless of system updates or security policy modifications. The embedded credentials typically persist throughout the application lifecycle and are often discoverable through reverse engineering or code analysis techniques, making them particularly dangerous in environments where the application source code may be accessible to unauthorized users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates potential for lateral movement within the network infrastructure and enables attackers to establish persistent access to critical security components. When these credentials are used for outbound communications, they can be leveraged to bypass network security controls and establish connections to malicious external systems, potentially facilitating data exfiltration or command and control activities. The encryption of internal data using hard-coded keys poses additional risks, as attackers who discover these credentials can decrypt sensitive information stored within the system, potentially exposing confidential user data, authentication tokens, or security configurations.
According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including T1552.001 (Credentials in Files) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage these hard-coded credentials to establish legitimate-looking access to the system. The vulnerability also aligns with T1566 (Phishing) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) as attackers may use the compromised credentials to conduct reconnaissance and expand their access within the network. Organizations using IBM Security Verify Access 10.7 are particularly vulnerable to attacks that exploit this weakness, as the hard-coded nature of the credentials makes detection and remediation challenging.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-4459 require immediate implementation of credential rotation procedures and comprehensive code review processes to identify and remove all hard-coded credentials from the application. Organizations should implement dynamic credential management systems that utilize secure key management solutions rather than static credentials embedded within the software. The remediation process involves replacing hard-coded values with secure credential management practices, including the implementation of proper key rotation mechanisms, secure credential storage in encrypted repositories, and the adoption of industry-standard security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities throughout the application architecture and ensure that no other components contain hard-coded credentials that could pose similar risks to the organization's security infrastructure.