External risk intelligence

IBM Data Risk Manager Command Execution Risk.

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2020-4428

IBM Data Risk Manager versions 2.0.1 through 2.0.4 can allow an authenticated attacker to run unauthorized commands. This could lead to unauthorized system control and impact business operations. Organizations should address this vulnerability.

2Halo Surface Signal

OS Command Injection

Ibm Data Risk Manager

2.0.1 to 2.0.4

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2020-4428

IBM Data Risk Manager is an enterprise governance and risk management application. While it operates over a network, it is typically deployed within internal corporate networks for security and compliance purposes rather than being exposed directly to the public internet.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

IBM Data Risk Manager versions 2.0.1 through 2.0.4 are affected by a vulnerability that allows an authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the system. This flaw could enable unauthorized access and control over the affected system, potentially leading to significant business risk. The core issue involves improper handling of commands, allowing for unintended execution.

  • Vulnerable IBM Data Risk Manager
  • Allows arbitrary command execution
  • Significant business risk

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

IBM Data Risk Manager versions 2.0.1 through 2.0.4 are susceptible to arbitrary command execution. This vulnerability arises when an authenticated attacker gains access to the system and then successfully triggers the vulnerable function. The attacker could then potentially gain control over the system, leading to significant business risk.

  • Exposure: System accessible by authenticated user.
  • Attacker starting point: Authenticated user.
  • Trigger and result: Execute commands, gain control.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the system, potentially leading to significant data loss or system compromise. The ability to execute commands remotely and affect system integrity presents a substantial business risk. Organizations using the affected IBM Data Risk Manager versions should consider this a high-priority issue.

  • Attacker needs authenticated access.
  • Exploitation difficulty is low.
  • Business risk is critical.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The identified vulnerability permits a remote, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the system by exploiting IBM Data Risk Manager versions 2.0.1 through 2.0.4. This presents a significant business risk by potentially compromising system integrity and data confidentiality. Organizations utilizing affected versions should take immediate action to mitigate this threat.

  • Locate all IBM Data Risk Manager instances.
  • Restrict access to affected systems.
  • Apply vendor updates and confirm remediation.

Frequently asked questions

What is IBM Data Risk Manager and what is it used for?

IBM Data Risk Manager is an enterprise security product designed to collect data from various security systems to analyze and visualize business risks [3]. It helps organizations uncover, assess, and manage risks associated with sensitive data, such as exposure and misconfigurations [6, 1]. It provides a control center for business leaders to understand data-related risks, including identifying critical data, its location, ownership, and access controls [1, 10].

What is the weakness in CVE-2020-4428?

CVE-2020-4428 is a command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) [catalog]. This means an authenticated attacker can exploit a flaw in how the software handles commands to execute arbitrary commands on the system. This could allow them to gain unauthorized control over the affected system [catalog].

What are the conditions needed to exploit CVE-2020-4428?

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must first have authenticated access to the IBM Data Risk Manager system. Once authenticated, they can then trigger the vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands. The vulnerability is not triggered if access is not authenticated or if the system is not running the affected versions of IBM Data Risk Manager.

Who should be concerned about CVE-2020-4428 based on network exposure?

This vulnerability is classified as external because it can be exploited over the network [catalog]. While IBM Data Risk Manager is typically used internally, its network accessibility means that any authenticated user on the network could potentially be an attacker. Therefore, organizations using this software should consider its exposure, whether it's directly internet-facing or accessible from internal networks that might be compromised.

What are the initial steps to take if running affected IBM Data Risk Manager versions?

Organizations running affected versions of IBM Data Risk Manager should first locate all instances of the software within their environment. It is advisable to restrict access to these systems as much as possible while actively working to apply vendor updates. Verifying that remediation steps have been successfully completed is crucial.

References