CVE-2020-4725 in Cloud APM
Summary
by MITRE • 03/03/2021
IBM Monitoring (IBM Cloud APM 8.1.4 ) could allow an authenticated user to modify HTML content by sending a specially crafted HTTP request to the APM UI, which could mislead another user. IBM X-Force ID: 187974.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2021
This vulnerability exists within IBM Cloud Application Performance Management version 8.1.4, specifically affecting the user interface component that handles HTML content rendering. The flaw represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows authenticated users to inject malicious HTML content through specially crafted HTTP requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the APM UI's content handling processes, creating an avenue for privilege escalation through content manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface. When an authenticated user submits a crafted HTTP request containing malicious HTML content, the system processes this input without adequate security controls, allowing the injected content to be executed in the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent cross-site scripting condition that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or redirect users to malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content modification, as it can be exploited to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to phishing sites. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate within the trusted APM interface, making detection more difficult and increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. The vulnerability affects all authenticated users within the system, potentially compromising the integrity of monitoring data and user sessions.
Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation controls and sanitize all user-supplied content before rendering it within web interfaces. The remediation process requires updating to the latest IBM Cloud APM version that includes proper HTML sanitization and content security policy enforcement. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual HTTP request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under T1531 for credential access through web application attacks.
The risk assessment indicates this vulnerability poses a medium to high severity threat due to the authenticated nature of the attack vector and the potential for data exfiltration. Organizations should prioritize patch management procedures and conduct regular security assessments of their monitoring infrastructure. Additional defensive measures including role-based access controls and user activity monitoring can help detect and prevent unauthorized content modification attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies for monitoring systems.