CVE-2020-4616 in Data Risk Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Data Risk Manager (iDNA) 2.0.6 could disclose sensitive username information to an attacker using a specially crafted HTTP request. IBM X-Force ID: 184929.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2020
IBM Data Risk Manager version 2.0.6 contains a vulnerability that allows unauthorized disclosure of sensitive username information through specially crafted HTTP requests. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the application's authentication and access control mechanisms, potentially enabling attackers to extract user credentials and account information from the system. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate and sanitize incoming HTTP requests, allowing malicious actors to construct specific request patterns that trigger unintended information disclosure behaviors within the system's response handling mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient sanitization of HTTP request parameters within the IBM Data Risk Manager application. When processing crafted HTTP requests, the system does not properly filter or validate user-supplied data, leading to potential exposure of internal user account information. This behavior aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a form of information disclosure vulnerability that can significantly compromise system security. The vulnerability occurs at the application layer where HTTP request parsing and response generation intersect, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by remote unauthenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as compromised username information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks including credential stuffing, account takeover attempts, and further reconnaissance activities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to enumerate valid user accounts within the system, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources. The exposure of username information specifically violates principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2017, particularly the A02:2017-Broken Authentication category, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts as a means of gaining access to systems. Organizations using IBM Data Risk Manager 2.0.6 may face significant security implications including regulatory compliance violations and potential data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation, request sanitization, and access control measures within the IBM Data Risk Manager application. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches and updates to address the identified flaw. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block malicious HTTP request patterns. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process should include implementing proper HTTP request validation, ensuring that all user-supplied inputs are properly sanitized before processing, and establishing comprehensive monitoring for anomalous access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their access control policies and implement principle of least privilege to minimize potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts.