CVE-2020-4606 in Security Verify Privilege Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 01/08/2021
IBM Security Verify Privilege Manager 10.8 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 184883.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2021
IBM Security Verify Privilege Manager version 10.8 contains a critical XML External Entity Injection vulnerability that exposes the system to unauthorized information disclosure and resource exhaustion attacks. This vulnerability stems from the application's insufficient input validation when processing XML data structures, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the XML parser behavior through crafted external entity declarations. The flaw exists in the XML processing pipeline where the system fails to properly sanitize or restrict external entity references during data parsing operations, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by local adversaries with system access.
The technical implementation of this XXE vulnerability allows attackers to construct malicious XML payloads that reference external resources or internal system files through external entity declarations. When the application processes these malformed XML inputs, the XML parser attempts to resolve external entity references, potentially leading to information disclosure through file inclusion attacks or resource consumption through excessive entity expansion. The vulnerability specifically affects the privilege management functionality where XML data is parsed to handle user permissions, access controls, and administrative configurations. According to CWE-611, this represents a direct implementation of XML external entity injection flaws that can be leveraged for both data exfiltration and denial of service conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on IBM Security Verify Privilege Manager for privileged access management. Local attackers who can execute code on the target system gain the ability to extract sensitive configuration data, user credentials, or system information stored in accessible files. The memory consumption aspect of this vulnerability can also be exploited to cause system instability or denial of service conditions that impact legitimate administrative functions. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only local system access, meaning that compromised accounts or insider threats could immediately exploit this weakness without requiring external network access or complex attack chains.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential privilege escalation and system compromise scenarios. Attackers could leverage the XXE functionality to access internal system resources that should remain protected, potentially gaining access to administrative interfaces or sensitive data stores. Organizations implementing IBM Security Verify Privilege Manager should consider this vulnerability in their overall security posture assessment, particularly in environments where privileged access controls are critical. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for XML External Entity Injection and T1566 for malicious file execution, representing both exploitation and persistence vectors within the attack lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application of IBM security patches and updates addressing the XXE vulnerability, along with implementing strict XML input validation and sanitization controls. Organizations should configure the XML parser to disable external entity resolution entirely and implement proper access controls to limit local system access. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices can help reduce the potential impact if exploitation occurs. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for similar XXE vulnerabilities in other applications and systems that process XML data. The implementation of web application firewalls and XML validation rules can provide additional protection layers against such attacks while maintaining operational functionality.