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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4259: IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0.0 through 6.0.3.1 could allow an authenticated user could manipulate cookie...

IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0.0 through 6.0.3.1 could allow an authenticated user could manipulate cookie information and remove or add modules from the cookie to access functionality not authorized to. IBM X-Force ID: 175638.

MediumCVSS 6.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM Sterling File Gateway had an authorization weakness where a logged-in user could alter cookie information to access functionality their account should not have. The issue is not described as data theft or service disruption, but it can undermine role-based controls in a file transfer environment.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority governance and integrity risk. Prioritize remediation if Sterling File Gateway supports regulated transfers, external partner access, or business-critical file workflows.

Technical view

CVE-2020-4259 affects IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0.0 through 6.0.3.1. An authenticated network user with low privileges could manipulate cookie modules to reach unauthorized functions. CVSS v3.0 is 6.5, with high integrity impact and no stated confidentiality or availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to organizations running affected IBM Sterling File Gateway versions, especially where many internal users, partners, or customers can authenticate to the application.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and KEV is false. The CVSS vector indicates network access, low privileges, no user interaction, low complexity, and unproven exploit maturity.

Researcher notes

Evidence points to an authenticated cookie-based authorization bypass. No CWE is listed in the bundle. Avoid assuming confidentiality impact, public exploit availability, or exact fixed versions without reviewing the IBM advisory directly.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify all IBM Sterling File Gateway deployments and versions.
  • Review IBM advisory 6208038 for official fixed levels and guidance.
  • Apply IBM-provided updates or mitigations where applicable.
  • Restrict application access to trusted authenticated users only.
  • Review roles and permissions for users with portal access.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether deployed versions fall between 2.2.0.0 and 6.0.3.1.
  • Verify IBM-recommended fixes are installed on each deployment.
  • Test that low-privilege users cannot access unauthorized modules.
  • Review application logs for unusual module or permission access patterns.
  • Document compensating controls if immediate patching is delayed.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2020-4259 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/PR:L/A:N/AC:L/I:H/RC:C/RL:O/E:U

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
6.5CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/PR:L/A:N/AC:L/I:H/RC:C/RL:O/E:U2.83.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.5Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4259Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/PR:L/A:N/AC:L/I:H/RC:C/RL:O/E:U

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
IBMSterling File Gateway2.2.0.0, 6.0.3.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.