CVE-2024-49783
📋 TL;DR
IBM OpenPages with Watson versions 8.3 and 9.0 store encrypted data with weaker-than-expected security, potentially allowing attackers to extract and decrypt sensitive information. This affects authenticated remote attackers with database access or local attackers with server file access. The vulnerability could lead to exposure of encrypted data through additional cryptographic analysis.
💻 Affected Systems
- IBM OpenPages with Watson
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers extract and decrypt sensitive encrypted data from the database or server files, potentially exposing confidential business information, audit data, or compliance records.
Likely Case
Privileged attackers with existing access to database or server files extract encrypted data and use offline cryptographic attacks to decrypt sensitive information over time.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and monitoring, attackers cannot reach the encrypted data, preventing exploitation even if the cryptographic weakness exists.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires either database access privileges or local file system access to server files, plus cryptographic analysis capabilities to potentially decrypt extracted data.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Apply interim fix or upgrade as specified in IBM advisory
Vendor Advisory: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7239145
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Review IBM advisory at provided URL. 2. Apply recommended interim fix or upgrade to patched version. 3. Restart IBM OpenPages services. 4. Verify encryption storage improvements.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Database and File Access
allLimit access to database and server file systems to only authorized administrators
Enhanced Monitoring
allImplement monitoring for unusual database access patterns or file system access to encrypted data storage locations
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to limit database and server file access to essential personnel only
- Monitor for unusual access patterns to encrypted data storage and implement alerting for suspicious activities
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check IBM OpenPages version via administrative console or configuration files. Versions 8.3 and 9.0 are vulnerable.Check Version:
Check OpenPages version in administrative console or review installation logs for version informationVerify Fix Applied:
Verify patch application through version check and confirm with IBM support that encryption storage has been updated.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual database access patterns, especially to encrypted data tables
- Unauthorized file access to server storage locations containing encrypted data
Network Indicators:
- Unusual database connection patterns from unexpected sources
SIEM Query:
Search for database access events from non-standard users or unusual file access patterns to encrypted data storage paths