CVE-2020-4528 in MQ Appliance
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2020
IBM MQ Appliance (IBM DataPower Gateway 10.0.0.0 and 2018.4.1.0 through 2018.4.1.12) could allow a local user, under special conditions, to obtain highly sensitive information from log files. IBM X-Force ID: 182658.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-4528 affects IBM MQ Appliance versions 10.0.0.0 and 2018.4.1.0 through 2018.4.1.12, specifically within the IBM DataPower Gateway component. This issue represents a significant information disclosure flaw that could potentially expose highly sensitive data to local users who exploit specific conditions within the system environment. The vulnerability resides in how the system handles log file generation and management, creating opportunities for unauthorized data access that could compromise system integrity and confidentiality. Organizations utilizing these specific versions of IBM MQ Appliance and DataPower Gateway face potential risks when local users can leverage this flaw to extract confidential information from system logs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and data sanitization within the logging mechanisms of the affected IBM products. When local users can trigger specific conditions within the system, they may be able to access log files that contain sensitive information such as authentication credentials, system configurations, or other confidential operational data. This represents a classic case of improper information handling where sensitive data is not adequately protected during the logging process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and demonstrates how insufficient logging security controls can create attack vectors for local privilege escalation scenarios. The flaw operates through a combination of file system permissions and logging process execution that fails to properly restrict access to sensitive log content.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-4528 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposure of sensitive data from log files can enable more sophisticated attacks and compromise the overall security posture of affected systems. Local users who can exploit this vulnerability may gain insights into system architecture, user credentials, or operational procedures that could facilitate further attacks. The potential for credential exposure makes this particularly dangerous in environments where the appliance handles sensitive data processing or serves as a gateway for critical system communications. Attackers could leverage this information to perform privilege escalation, conduct targeted attacks against specific users, or gain deeper understanding of the system's operational environment. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can undermine the security controls that organizations rely on for protecting sensitive information assets.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of IBM MQ Appliance and DataPower Gateway where available, as IBM has released updates addressing this specific information disclosure vulnerability. System administrators should conduct thorough log file access reviews to identify any unauthorized access patterns and implement enhanced monitoring for suspicious activities related to log file access. The implementation of proper log file permissions and access controls should be enforced to prevent local users from accessing sensitive content within log files. Security teams should also consider implementing automated log analysis tools that can detect and alert on unusual access patterns to log files, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1070.002 for Indicator Removal on Host. Additionally, organizations should perform comprehensive security assessments to identify any other potential information disclosure vulnerabilities within their IBM MQ and DataPower environments, ensuring that all components are properly secured against similar threats.