CVE-2019-4396 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

IBM Cloud Orchestrator versions 2.4 through 2.4.0.5 and 2.5 through 2.5.0.9 are susceptible to HTTP response splitting attacks due to inadequate user input validation. This vulnerability could allow remote attackers to inject malicious HTTP headers, leading to various security risks.

Understanding CVE-2019-4396

This CVE involves HTTP response splitting attacks on IBM Cloud Orchestrator versions 2.4 through 2.4.0.5 and 2.5 through 2.5.0.9.

What is CVE-2019-4396?

CVE-2019-4396 is a vulnerability in IBM Cloud Orchestrator that enables remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTTP headers, potentially leading to further attacks like web cache poisoning and cross-site scripting.

The Impact of CVE-2019-4396

The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate HTTP responses, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-4396

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in IBM Cloud Orchestrator versions 2.4 through 2.4.0.5 and 2.5 through 2.5.0.9 arises from inadequate validation of user input, allowing remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTTP headers.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cloud Orchestrator 2.4, 2.4.0.1, 2.4.0.2, 2.4.0.3, 2.4.0.4, 2.4.0.5
Cloud Orchestrator 2.5, 2.5.0.1, 2.5.0.2, 2.5.0.3, 2.5.0.4, 2.5.0.5, 2.5.0.6, 2.5.0.7, 2.5.0.8, 2.5.0.9

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven
Impact: Allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTTP headers.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-4396 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM.
Monitor for any unusual HTTP responses.
Educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious URLs.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation mechanisms.
Regularly update and patch the Cloud Orchestrator software.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected versions of IBM Cloud Orchestrator are updated with the latest patches to mitigate the HTTP response splitting vulnerability.