CVE-2020-4766 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

IBM MQ Internet Pass-Thru 2.1 and 9.2 could allow a remote user to cause a denial of service by sending malformed MQ data requests which would consume all available resources.

Understanding CVE-2020-4766

IBM MQ Internet Pass-Thru 2.1 and 9.2 are affected by a vulnerability that could lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2020-4766?

CVE-2020-4766 is a vulnerability in IBM MQ Internet Pass-Thru versions 2.1 and 9.2 that enables a remote attacker to trigger a denial of service by sending specially crafted MQ data requests, depleting system resources.

The Impact of CVE-2020-4766

The vulnerability poses a medium-severity risk, allowing attackers to exhaust system resources, potentially leading to service disruption.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-4766

IBM MQ Internet Pass-Thru 2.1 and 9.2 vulnerability details.

Vulnerability Description

CVSS Base Score: 5.9 (Medium)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: High
Availability Impact: High
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven
Privileges Required: None
Remediation Level: Official Fix

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Versions: 2.1, 9.2
Vendor: IBM

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by sending malformed MQ data requests, causing resource exhaustion.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-4766.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.
Implement firewall rules to restrict access to vulnerable systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch IBM MQ Internet Pass-Thru installations.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe computing practices to prevent exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security bulletins and updates from IBM.
Apply patches promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.