CVE-2020-4941 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 09/24/2021
IBM Edge 4.2 could reveal sensitive version information about the server from error pages that could aid an attacker in further attacks against the system. IBM X-Force ID: 191941.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-4941 affects IBM Edge 4.2 systems and represents a sensitive data exposure issue that stems from improper error handling mechanisms within the server infrastructure. This flaw allows attackers to extract version information about the underlying server software through carefully crafted requests that trigger error responses. The vulnerability resides in the server's response handling logic where error pages are generated without adequate sanitization of metadata that could inadvertently reveal system internals. Such information disclosure vulnerabilities are particularly concerning as they provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can inform subsequent exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the server's failure to properly filter or obfuscate version identifiers when generating error responses. When an attacker submits malformed requests or accesses non-existent resources, the system responds with error pages that contain server version information, operating system details, and potentially other identifying metadata. This occurs due to inadequate input validation and response sanitization processes that do not strip or mask sensitive information from error messages before delivery to requesting clients. The flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices and inadequate security configuration management within the IBM Edge platform.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly weakens the security posture of affected systems by providing attackers with crucial information needed for advanced exploitation techniques. The disclosed version information enables threat actors to identify specific software versions and potentially correlate them with known vulnerabilities in the CVE database, thereby facilitating targeted attacks against identified weaknesses. This information can be leveraged to construct more sophisticated attack vectors, including exploit development for known vulnerabilities in the specific IBM Edge version, or to bypass security controls that might be configured based on version-specific assumptions. The vulnerability essentially provides an attacker with a roadmap for system compromise that would otherwise require additional reconnaissance efforts.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure" and specifically relates to the improper exposure of sensitive information through error messages and response handling. This weakness is further categorized under ATT&CK technique T1082, "System Information Discovery," as the vulnerability enables attackers to gather system metadata that would normally require more invasive reconnaissance methods. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that IBM Edge systems are often deployed in enterprise environments where such information disclosure could lead to broader network compromise. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a larger reconnaissance phase that could precede more destructive attacks, including privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive error handling procedures that sanitize all server responses regardless of their nature. Organizations should configure their IBM Edge systems to return generic error messages that do not contain version information or system-specific metadata. This includes implementing proper input validation, response filtering, and security headers that prevent information leakage. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in other components of the system. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this type of vulnerability. System administrators should also maintain up-to-date patches for IBM Edge software and implement proper access controls to limit exposure of sensitive systems to untrusted networks.