CVE-2020-4325 : What You Need to Know

IBM Process Federation Server and Automation Workstream Services in Cloud Pak for Automation are affected by a vulnerability that can lead to a Denial of Service attack.

Understanding CVE-2020-4325

This CVE involves a flaw in the IBM Process Federation Server Global Teams REST API that can result in memory exhaustion and an OutOfMemory exception.

What is CVE-2020-4325?

The vulnerability in the IBM Process Federation Server Global Teams REST API fails to properly shut down thread pools, causing memory leakage and potential denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2020-4325

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 6.5 (Medium severity) with a high impact on availability. It can be exploited remotely without user interaction, potentially leading to a DoS condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-4325

The technical details of this CVE include:

Vulnerability Description

The IBM Process Federation Server Global Teams REST API does not correctly release memory from thread pools, leading to memory exhaustion and potential service disruption.

Affected Systems and Versions

Process Federation Server versions 18.0.0.1, 18.0.0.2, 19.0.0.1, 19.0.0.2, 19.0.0.3
Automation Workstream Services in Cloud Pak for Automation version 19.0.0.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring user interaction, making it a potential target for DoS attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-4325, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM to affected versions.
Monitor system resources for signs of memory exhaustion.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch affected systems.
Implement network security measures to detect and prevent DoS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected versions of Process Federation Server and Automation Workstream Services are updated with the latest patches and fixes.