CVE-2020-4628 in Cloud Pak for Security
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2021
IBM Cloud Pak for Security (CP4S) 1.3.0.1 and 1.4.0.0 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information when a detailed technical error message is returned in the browser. This information could be used in further attacks against the system. IBM X-Force ID: 185369.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2021
IBM Cloud Pak for Security version 1.3.0.1 and 1.4.0.0 contains a vulnerability that exposes sensitive system information through detailed error messages returned to web browsers. This flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that can significantly impact the security posture of the affected system. The vulnerability occurs when the application generates comprehensive technical error responses that include stack traces, internal system paths, configuration details, or other diagnostic information typically intended for developers rather than end users. Such verbose error reporting provides attackers with valuable insights into the underlying architecture, potentially revealing database schemas, file paths, component versions, and other system internals that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling practices within the web application layer of IBM Cloud Pak for Security. When system errors occur during request processing, the application fails to sanitize error responses before transmitting them to client browsers. This behavior aligns with CWE-209, which specifically addresses the disclosure of detailed error messages that can aid attackers in understanding system internals. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and error management protocols that are fundamental to secure application development practices. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that trigger specific error conditions, thereby harvesting sensitive information from the error responses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating potential pathways for more serious security breaches. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains knowledge about the system's internal structure, which can be used to plan targeted attacks against specific components. The leaked information might include database connection strings, server configuration details, or internal API endpoints that could be used to bypass authentication mechanisms or exploit other vulnerabilities. This information disclosure vulnerability creates a foundation for privilege escalation attacks, as attackers can use the gathered intelligence to identify weak points in the system architecture. The presence of such detailed error information also violates the principle of least privilege by exposing system internals that should remain hidden from external entities.
Organizations using affected versions of IBM Cloud Pak for Security should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary defense involves configuring the application to return generic error messages to end users while logging detailed technical information internally for administrative purposes. This approach aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of defense in depth. System administrators should also implement web application firewalls to filter and sanitize error responses, ensuring that no sensitive information is exposed to external parties. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar error handling issues across the entire application stack. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling as specified in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, particularly in the area of vulnerability management and incident response. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring to detect unusual error patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular updates and patches from IBM should be applied promptly to remediate this vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation by threat actors who may be actively scanning for such information disclosure weaknesses in enterprise security platforms.