CVE-2019-4059
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in IBM Rational ClearCase's GIT connector exposes the document database password due to insufficient protection. Attackers could obtain this password and gain unauthorized access to sensitive document databases. This affects IBM Rational ClearCase 1.0.0.0 with the GIT connector enabled.
💻 Affected Systems
- IBM Rational ClearCase
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of document database with potential data theft, modification, or deletion of sensitive intellectual property and source code.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to document database leading to data exfiltration or tampering with version-controlled assets.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if database is isolated with additional authentication layers and network segmentation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires access to the system or network where the password is exposed, but the actual password extraction is straightforward once access is obtained.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Apply fix from IBM Security Bulletin
Vendor Advisory: https://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ibm10870810
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Review IBM Security Bulletin for specific patch details
2. Download and apply the fix from IBM Fix Central
3. Restart ClearCase services
4. Verify the fix by checking version and testing functionality
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable GIT Connector
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable GIT connector component until patching can be completed.
# Consult IBM documentation for specific disable commands for your OS
Network Segmentation
allIsolate ClearCase servers from untrusted networks and implement strict access controls.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement additional database authentication layers and monitoring
- Restrict network access to ClearCase servers and implement strict firewall rules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if running IBM Rational ClearCase 1.0.0.0 with GIT connector enabled. Review configuration files for exposed credentials.Check Version:
cleartool ver -full (on ClearCase client) or check installation logsVerify Fix Applied:
Verify patch installation through IBM Fix Central verification tools and test GIT connector functionality.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual database access patterns
- Failed authentication attempts to document database
- Unauthorized GIT connector activity
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected connections to document database ports
- Suspicious traffic from ClearCase servers
SIEM Query:
source="clearcase*" AND (event="database_access" OR event="authentication_failure")