CVE-2019-4473 : Security Advisory and Response

IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition 7, 7R, and 8 on the AIX platform have insecure absolute RPATHs, potentially allowing local users to inject code and gain elevated privileges.

Understanding CVE-2019-4473

On the AIX platform, IBM's Java SDK versions 7, 7R1, and 8 are affected by insecure RPATH vulnerabilities.

What is CVE-2019-4473?

Multiple binaries within IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition 7, 7R, and 8 on the AIX platform have insecure absolute RPATHs, enabling local users to inject code and escalate privileges. The corresponding IBM X-Force ID is 163984.

The Impact of CVE-2019-4473

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.4 (High severity) with a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-4473

IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition 7, 7R1, and 8 on the AIX platform are affected by insecure absolute RPATHs.

Vulnerability Description

The binaries within the mentioned Java versions use insecure absolute RPATHs, potentially facilitating code injection and privilege escalation by local users.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Java
Vendor: IBM
Versions affected: 7, 7R1, 8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven
Scope: Unchanged

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take:

Apply official fixes provided by IBM.
Monitor IBM's security bulletins for updates. Long-Term Security Practices:
Regularly update Java SDK to the latest secure versions.
Implement least privilege access controls.
Conduct regular security assessments and audits.

Patching and Updates

Ensure to apply official fixes and updates released by IBM to address the RPATH vulnerabilities in Java SDK.