CVE-2020-4826 in API Connect
Summary
by MITRE
IBM API Connect 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.1.0 and 2018.4.1.0 through 2018.4.1.13 is vulnerable to cross-site request forgery which could allow an attacker to execute malicious and unauthorized actions transmitted from a user that the website trusts. IBM X-Force ID: 189840.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2021
IBM API Connect versions 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.1.0 and 2018.4.1.0 through 2018.4.1.13 contain a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. This vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery flaws in web applications. The flaw exists due to insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the API management platform's administrative interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate users, potentially leading to complete compromise of the API management environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it allows attackers to manipulate the API Connect administrative functions through forged requests. This includes but is not limited to creating, modifying, or deleting API configurations, managing user accounts, and altering security policies. The vulnerability specifically affects the administrative interfaces of IBM API Connect, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on this platform for managing their API ecosystems. The attack vector typically involves tricking authenticated users into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised websites that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable API Connect instance. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers phishing for credentials, and T1071.004, which involves application layer protocol usage for command and control.
Organizations utilizing affected IBM API Connect versions should immediately implement mitigation strategies to protect their API management infrastructure. The primary recommendation involves implementing robust anti-CSRF token mechanisms throughout the administrative interfaces, ensuring that all state-changing requests require valid tokens that are tied to the user's session. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict origin validation checks and implement proper session management controls to prevent unauthorized request execution. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and following IBM's security advisories for recommended updates. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their API Connect deployments to identify and remediate similar issues across their entire API management ecosystem. Organizations may also consider implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation, multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and regular security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The specific IBM X-Force ID 189840 provides additional context for the vulnerability's classification and potential attack scenarios, emphasizing the need for immediate remediation actions to prevent successful exploitation attempts.