In this long-read post, we will dive deep into a security vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-49803, which affects IBM Security Verify Access Appliance versions 10.. through 10..8. This vulnerability allows a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the target system by sending a specially crafted request. We will discuss the critical aspects of the vulnerability, including the affected software, the underlying issue, the potential risks, and the essential steps to mitigate the vulnerability.

Affected Software: IBM Security Verify Access Appliance

IBM Security Verify Access Appliance, formerly known as IBM Security Access Manager, is an advanced appliance for securing access to web and mobile applications. The software offers features such as single sign-on, authentication, authorization, and federation, among others. The affected versions are between 10.. and 10..8.

Vulnerability Details: Remote Authenticated Arbitrary Command Execution

CVE-2024-49803 is classified as a command injection vulnerability, which allows a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the target system. This is achieved by sending a specially crafted request to a vulnerable endpoint within the affected software.

Here's a sample code snippet illustrating the vulnerability

POST /vulnerableEndpoint/ HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ 
  "userInput": "; rm -rf /;", // This input is not sanitized!
}

In this hypothetical example, an attacker sends a POST request to a vulnerable endpoint, with malicious input that includes the ; rm -rf /; command. Due to insufficient input sanitation, the command is executed on the target system, leading to disastrous consequences.

- National Vulnerability Database (NVD)

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-49803

- IBM Security Advisory

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6494664

Exploit Details

An exploit for this vulnerability would involve an attacker crafting a request that contains a harmful command, leveraging features that allow user input to construct request parameters or payloads. Upon successful exploitation, the malicious command injected by the attacker will be executed on the server, potentially compromising the affected system's integrity, confidentiality, and availability.

This arbitrary command execution vulnerability is notably dangerous because it can lead to a total compromise of the affected system, enabling the attacker to execute any command on the target system with the same privileges as the application running the vulnerable software. Examples of potential exploitation scenarios include:

Mitigation Steps

To mitigate this vulnerability and avoid potential exploitation, it is crucial to apply the latest security patches provided by IBM. IBM has released a security patch to address CVE-2024-49803, which can be found here:

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6494664

Conclusion

CVE-2024-49803 is a critical vulnerability that affects IBM Security Verify Access Appliance versions 10.. through 10..8. The vulnerability allows a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the target system by sending a specially crafted request. It is crucial for organizations to apply the latest security patches provided by IBM, consistently practice secure coding habits, and maintain a proactive approach to security management. By doing so, they can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation and ensure the continued protection of their IT assets.

Timeline

Published on: 11/29/2024 17:15:08 UTC