CVE-2022-22366 in UrbanCode Deploy
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2022
IBM UrbanCode Deploy (UCD) 6.2.7.15, 7.0.5.10, 7.1.2.6, and 7.2.2.1 stores user credentials in plain clear text which can be read by a local user. IBM X-Force ID: 22106.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2022
IBM UrbanCode Deploy versions 6.2.7.15, 7.0.5.10, 7.1.2.6, and 7.2.2.1 contain a critical security flaw where user credentials are stored in plain text format on the local filesystem. This vulnerability represents a fundamental failure in credential management practices and directly violates security best practices outlined in CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper storage of credentials. The flaw allows any local user with access to the system to read these credentials without authentication, creating a severe privilege escalation vector that can be exploited by both malicious insiders and external attackers who gain local access to the deployment server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's insecure storage mechanism where authentication tokens, passwords, and other sensitive credential information are written to configuration files or database entries without proper encryption or obfuscation. This plain text storage occurs at the filesystem level, making it accessible through standard file system operations and bypassing any application-level security controls that might otherwise protect sensitive data. The vulnerability affects the core authentication infrastructure of IBM UrbanCode Deploy, which is designed for continuous delivery and deployment automation, making it particularly dangerous as it can provide attackers with access to production environments, build servers, and other critical infrastructure components that the deployment system manages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial and far-reaching within enterprise environments that utilize IBM UrbanCode Deploy for application deployment and infrastructure management. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to production systems, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized code deployments. The compromise of deployment credentials can enable attackers to execute malicious code on target systems, modify deployment pipelines, and escalate their privileges within the organization's infrastructure. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1555.003, which covers credential access through service account credentials, and represents a significant risk to organizations that rely on automated deployment systems for their software delivery processes.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of exploitation. The primary recommendation is to upgrade to the latest patched versions of IBM UrbanCode Deploy that address this credential storage issue through proper encryption mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should implement strict file system access controls and privilege separation to limit local user access to sensitive configuration files. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to deployment servers, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify any potential compromise of the affected systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security standards such as those defined in NIST SP 800-53, specifically focusing on access control and configuration management controls that prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information and maintain the integrity of authentication systems.