CVE-2019-4676 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

IBM Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance 7.0.2 stores user credentials in an unencrypted format, posing a security risk.

Understanding CVE-2019-4676

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in IBM Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance 7.0.2 that allows local users to access user credentials stored in plain text.

What is CVE-2019-4676?

The user credentials in IBM Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance 7.0.2 are stored in an unencrypted format, making them easily readable by a local user. This vulnerability has been identified by IBM X-Force with the ID number 171512.

The Impact of CVE-2019-4676

CVSS Base Score: 6.3 (Medium Severity)
Confidentiality Impact: High
Attack Complexity: High
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/I:N/AV:N/S:C/C:H/PR:L/UI:N/A:N/AC:H/RL:O/RC:C/E:U

Technical Details of CVE-2019-4676

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows local users to read user credentials stored in plain text, potentially compromising sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance
Vendor: IBM
Version: 7.0.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a local user to access and read sensitive user credentials stored in an unencrypted format.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

IBM recommends applying the official fix provided by the vendor to address this vulnerability.
Regularly monitor user access and privilege levels to detect unauthorized activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Encrypt sensitive user data to prevent unauthorized access.
Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms to protect user credentials.

Patching and Updates

Stay updated with security bulletins and patches released by IBM to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2019-4676.