CVE-2020-4900 in Business Automation Workflow
Summary
by MITRE • 11/30/2020
IBM Business Automation Workflow 19.0.0.3 stores potentially sensitive information in log files that could be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 190991.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2020
IBM Business Automation Workflow version 19.0.0.3 contains a security vulnerability that allows local users to access sensitive information stored in log files. This issue stems from improper handling of sensitive data within the application's logging mechanisms, creating potential exposure points for confidential information. The vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure, where system logs inadvertently contain data that should remain protected. According to CWE-312, this represents a weakness where sensitive data is stored in cleartext within log files, making it accessible to unauthorized local users who can read these files directly.
The technical flaw occurs when the workflow application generates log entries that include potentially sensitive information such as authentication tokens, user credentials, or business-critical data. These log files are typically created with insufficient access controls, allowing local users to read the contents without proper authorization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require network access or remote exploitation, making it accessible to anyone with local system access. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 which describes data from local systems being collected, and T1070 which covers indicator removal on host.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure. Local users with access to the system can potentially extract sensitive business data, authentication information, or proprietary workflow configurations from the log files. This could enable further attacks such as privilege escalation, lateral movement within the network, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on IBM Business Automation Workflow for critical business processes, as the exposure of workflow data could impact business continuity and regulatory compliance. Organizations may face audit failures or compliance violations if sensitive information is discovered in log files, particularly in regulated environments such as financial services or healthcare.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper log file access controls and sensitive data sanitization. System administrators should configure log files with restricted permissions, ensuring only authorized personnel can access them. Additionally, the application should be configured to avoid logging sensitive information or to properly redact such data before writing to log files. Regular log file audits should be conducted to identify any sensitive information that may have been inadvertently logged. Organizations should also implement centralized log management solutions with proper access controls and monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices for log management as outlined in NIST SP 800-92 and ISO 27001 controls for information security management. Patching the vulnerability through IBM's official security updates is the recommended primary mitigation approach, as it addresses the root cause within the application's logging implementation rather than attempting to work around the issue through manual configuration changes.