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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4557: IBM Business Automation Workflow 18.0, 19.0, and 20.0 and IBM Business Process Manager 8.5 and 8.6 are vuln...

IBM Business Automation Workflow 18.0, 19.0, and 20.0 and IBM Business Process Manager 8.5 and 8.6 are vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 183611.

MediumCVSS 5.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a cross-site scripting issue in IBM Business Automation Workflow and IBM Business Process Manager. A logged-in user could place JavaScript into the Web UI, changing what another trusted session sees or does and potentially exposing credentials.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority remediation item. It is not described as actively exploited, but it can affect credential confidentiality inside trusted sessions and should be addressed on exposed or business-critical workflow systems.

Technical view

CVE-2020-4557 affects IBM Business Automation Workflow 18.0, 19.0, 20.0 and IBM Business Process Manager 8.5, 8.6. It is a network-reachable XSS flaw requiring low privileges and user interaction. CVSS is 5.4 with low confidentiality and integrity impact, no availability impact, and changed scope.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where affected IBM workflow or process management portals remain deployed, especially if user-accessible Web UI functions are available to broad internal populations or external partners.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVSS vector includes user interaction and low privileges, so exploitation is more plausible after access to an account or workflow-facing user path.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to IBM/CVE metadata in the provided bundle. The bundle identifies XSS impact and affected versions, but does not provide exploit details, exact vulnerable parameters, or confirmed patch package names.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify all IBM BAW and BPM instances and versions.
  • Check IBM advisory 6241338 for product-specific fixes or interim fixes.
  • Apply IBM-recommended remediation for affected versions once confirmed.
  • Restrict Web UI access to trusted users and networks during remediation.
  • Review session and credential controls for affected portals.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether deployed versions match BAW 18.0, 19.0, 20.0 or BPM 8.5, 8.6.
  • Verify vendor remediation status against IBM advisory and X-Force 183611.
  • Check whether the affected Web UI is reachable by untrusted users.
  • Review logs for suspicious script-like content or unusual credential activity.
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-2020-4557 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
5.4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/PR:L/AC:L/I:L/A:N/S:C/AV:N/C:L/UI:R/RL:O/E:H/RC:C2.32.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4557Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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
IBMBusiness Process Manager8.5, 8.6Listed
IBMBusiness Automation Workflow18.0, 19.0, 20.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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