CVE-2020-4430
IBM Data Risk Manager Directory Traversal Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2020-4430 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting IBM Data Risk Manager. IBM Data Risk Manager contains a directory traversal vulnerability that could allow a remote authenticated attacker to traverse directories and send a specially crafted URL request to download arbitrary files from 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 84.29% (99.3th percentile), this vulnerability has a very high probability of exploitation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:NOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| ibm | data risk manager | >= 2.0.1, <= 2.0.4 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
References
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/180535(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-2020-4430(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Path Traversal (also known as Directory Traversal) is a vulnerability that occurs when software uses external input to construct a pathname intended to identify a file or directory located underneath a restricted parent directory, but fails to properly neutralize special elements such as ".." and "/" that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location outside of the restricted directory. Attackers exploit this weakness by manipulating file path references using sequences like "../" to escape the intended directory and access arbitrary files on the system.
Learn more: CWE-22 — Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Impact Analysis
CVE-2020-4430 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 4.3 (MEDIUM), indicating a medium-severity threat. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network with low attack complexity and requires low privileges, and no user interaction is needed. Successful exploitation can partially expose data confidentiality. Organizations running affected IBM Data Risk Manager deployments face significant operational risk if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2020-4430 is confirmed as actively exploited through its listing in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The EPSS score of 84.29% (99.3th 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-2020-4430 affects IBM Data Risk Manager. IBM Data Risk Manager 2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.0.3, and 2.0.4 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to traverse directories on the system. An attacker could send a specially-crafted URL request to download arbitrary files from the system. IBM X-Force ID: 180535. 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 4.3 reflects the combination of easy exploitability and moderate impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2020-4430 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2020-4430 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation. The EPSS score of 84.29% (99.3th percentile) further indicates a significant exploitation probability.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-4430?
CVE-2020-4430 affects IBM Data Risk Manager. Organizations using this product should verify their deployments and apply updates immediately.
How do I fix CVE-2020-4430?
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-2020-4430?
CVE-2020-4430 has a CVSS 3.1 score of 4.3 (MEDIUM). This is a medium-severity vulnerability that requires timely remediation.
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