CVE-2024-40700 in Security Verify Access Appliance
Summary
by MITRE • 02/04/2025
IBM Security Verify Access Appliance and Container 10.0.0 through 10.0.8 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-40700 affects IBM Security Verify Access Appliance and Container versions 10.0.0 through 10.0.8, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security posture of identity and access management systems. This vulnerability resides within the web user interface of the security appliance, creating an attack vector that allows unauthenticated adversaries to inject malicious javascript code into the application's response. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize user input or output, enabling attackers to manipulate the web interface and execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can reach the affected web interface.
The technical implementation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's user interface components. When user-supplied data is rendered back to the browser without proper sanitization, attackers can embed malicious javascript payloads that execute in the context of authenticated sessions. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can manipulate the web interface to steal session cookies, credentials, or perform other malicious actions that compromise the integrity of the security appliance. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers spearphishing through social engineering attacks that can leverage such web-based vulnerabilities to establish persistent access. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this affects both appliance and container deployments, increasing the potential attack vectors across different deployment models.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as it creates opportunities for credential theft and session hijacking within trusted environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain access to administrative privileges or user credentials within the security appliance's session management system. This compromise undermines the fundamental security guarantees that identity and access management systems are designed to provide, as the attacker can manipulate the web interface to perform unauthorized actions or extract sensitive information. The vulnerability particularly threatens organizations that rely on IBM Security Verify Access for critical authentication services, as successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the identity infrastructure. The risk is amplified by the fact that the vulnerability affects multiple versions within the 10.0.x release series, suggesting a systemic issue in the web application's input handling mechanisms.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from IBM, which address the cross-site scripting vulnerability through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of the web interface to untrusted networks, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers against malicious payload delivery. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar input validation vulnerabilities, and application developers should follow secure coding practices that prevent cross-site scripting through proper data sanitization. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of monitoring for unusual activity patterns in authentication systems and implementing robust session management controls that can detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of credential compromise if the vulnerability is successfully exploited.