CVE-2019-4427 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

IBM Cloud CLI versions 0.6.0 through 0.16.1 on Windows are vulnerable due to the use of a SHA1 certificate for digital signing, potentially allowing attackers to create malicious installers.

Understanding CVE-2019-4427

IBM Cloud CLI versions 0.6.0 through 0.16.1 on Windows are affected by a vulnerability related to the use of a weak SHA1 certificate for digital signing.

What is CVE-2019-4427?

The installation packages for IBM Cloud CLI versions 0.6.0 through 0.16.1 on Windows have been digitally signed using a SHA1 certificate. There could be a potential vulnerability where an attacker could leverage this weak algorithm to create an installer that contains malicious software. This issue has been identified by IBM X-Force with the ID number 162773.

The Impact of CVE-2019-4427

The vulnerability has a CVSSv3 base score of 5.9, indicating a medium severity issue. The confidentiality impact is high, but the availability impact is none. The attack complexity is high, and exploit code maturity is unproven.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-4427

IBM Cloud CLI versions 0.6.0 through 0.16.1 on Windows are affected by a vulnerability due to the use of a SHA1 certificate for digital signing.

Vulnerability Description

The digital signing of IBM Cloud CLI versions 0.6.0 through 0.16.1 on Windows using a SHA1 certificate poses a security risk as attackers could exploit this weak algorithm to create installers with malicious content.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cloud CLI
Vendor: IBM
Affected Versions: 0.6.0, 0.16.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: High
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take:

IBM recommends updating to the latest version of IBM Cloud CLI to mitigate this vulnerability.
Avoid downloading or running executables from untrusted sources. Long-Term Security Practices:
Implement secure code signing practices using stronger algorithms.
Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates from IBM.
Educate users on safe installation practices.

Patching and Updates

IBM has released an official fix to address this vulnerability. Users are advised to apply the patch promptly to secure their systems.