CVE-2020-4316 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

IBM Publishing Engine versions 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1, and 7.0 are vulnerable due to the lack of setting the secure attribute on authorization tokens or session cookies, potentially allowing attackers to obtain sensitive information.

Understanding CVE-2020-4316

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in IBM Publishing Engine versions 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1, and 7.0 that could be exploited by attackers to retrieve cookie values.

What is CVE-2020-4316?

IBM Publishing Engine versions 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1, and 7.0 do not properly set the secure attribute on authorization tokens or session cookies, enabling attackers to potentially intercept sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2020-4316

The vulnerability could allow attackers to obtain cookie values by sending malicious links to users or planting them on websites visited by users, leading to potential data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-4316

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

IBM Publishing Engine versions 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1, and 7.0 lack the secure attribute on authorization tokens or session cookies.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Rational Publishing Engine
Vendor: IBM
Affected Versions: 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1, 7.0

Exploitation Mechanism

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

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-4316 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM to address the vulnerability.
Educate users about the risks of clicking on unknown links.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure cookie practices to prevent data leakage.
Regularly update and patch the IBM Publishing Engine to mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the IBM Publishing Engine is updated with the latest security patches to address the vulnerability.