CVE-2020-4427
IBM Data Risk Manager Security Bypass Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2020-4427 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting IBM Data Risk Manager. IBM Data Risk Manager contains a security bypass vulnerability that could allow a remote attacker to bypass security restrictions when configured with SAML authentication. By sending a specially crafted HTTP request, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to bypass the authentication process and gain full administrative access to the system. CISA has added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. With an EPSS score of 90.34% (99.6th percentile), this vulnerability has a very high probability of exploitation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| ibm | data risk manager | >= 2.0.1, <= 2.0.6.1 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/180532(VDB Entry, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6206875(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Nov/0(Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Nov/1(Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-4427(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Improper Authentication occurs when an actor claims to have a given identity but the software does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. This encompasses a wide range of authentication flaws including weak password mechanisms, missing multi-factor authentication, predictable tokens, bypassable authentication logic, and flawed session management.
Learn more: CWE-287 — Improper Authentication
Impact Analysis
CVE-2020-4427 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 (CRITICAL), indicating a maximum-severity threat. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network with low attack complexity and requires no privileges, and no user interaction is needed. Successful exploitation can severely compromise data confidentiality, and allow unauthorized modification of data, and cause complete service disruption. Organizations running affected IBM Data Risk Manager deployments face significant operational risk if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2020-4427 is confirmed as actively exploited through its listing in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The EPSS score of 90.34% (99.6th percentile) indicates a very high probability of exploitation. Federal agencies were required to remediate this vulnerability by 2022-05-03 per CISA's binding operational directive.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately as mandated by CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Verify that all instances of IBM Data Risk Manager have been updated to the latest patched versions.
- If immediate patching is not possible, restrict network access to affected systems using firewall rules and network segmentation to limit exposure.
- Monitor systems for indicators of compromise, including unusual process activity, unexpected network connections, and unauthorized configuration changes.
- Review security logs and conduct threat hunting to determine if the vulnerability was exploited prior to patching.
Technical Details
CVE-2020-4427 affects IBM Data Risk Manager. IBM Data Risk Manager 2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.0.3, 2.0.4, 2.0.5, and 2.0.6 could allow a remote attacker to bypass security restrictions when configured with SAML authentication. By sending a specially crafted HTTP request, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to bypass the authentication process and gain full administrative access to the system. IBM X-Force ID: 180532. The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without physical access to the target system. The CVSS score of 9.8 reflects the combination of easy exploitability and severe impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2020-4427 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2020-4427 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation. The EPSS score of 90.34% (99.6th percentile) further indicates a significant exploitation probability.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-4427?
CVE-2020-4427 affects IBM Data Risk Manager. Organizations using this product should verify their deployments and apply updates immediately.
How do I fix CVE-2020-4427?
Apply updates per vendor instructions. Ensure all affected systems are updated to the latest patched versions. If patching is not immediately possible, implement network-level mitigations to limit exposure.
How severe is CVE-2020-4427?
CVE-2020-4427 has a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). This is a critical-severity vulnerability that requires immediate attention and remediation.
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