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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4579: IBM DataPower Gateway 2018.4.1.0 through 2018.4.1.12 could allow a remote attacker to cause a denial of ser...

IBM DataPower Gateway 2018.4.1.0 through 2018.4.1.12 could allow a remote attacker to cause a denial of service by sending a specially crafted HTTP/2 request with invalid characters. IBM X-Force ID: 184438.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

IBM DataPower Gateway versions 2018.4.1.0 through 2018.4.1.12 can be knocked offline by a remote unauthenticated attacker using malformed HTTP/2 traffic. The issue affects availability, not data confidentiality or integrity, but impacted gateways may sit on critical API paths.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for externally reachable or business-critical DataPower gateways. The main business risk is service interruption on API or integration paths, not data theft based on the provided sources.

Technical view

CVE-2020-4579 is a network-reachable denial-of-service flaw in IBM DataPower Gateway triggered by specially crafted HTTP/2 requests containing invalid characters. CVSS 3.0 is 7.5, with no privileges or user interaction required and high availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where IBM DataPower Gateway 2018.4.1.0 through 2018.4.1.12 handles reachable HTTP/2 traffic, especially on internet-facing API, integration, or edge gateway services.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. IBM X-Force tracks the issue as ID 184438. Treat exploit status as unknown unless vendor or threat-intelligence sources provide newer evidence.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to IBM and CVE metadata. The CVSS vector indicates remote, low-complexity, unauthenticated availability impact with official remediation available, but the bundle does not name fixed versions or detailed mitigations.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory IBM DataPower Gateway deployments and versions.
  • Check IBM advisory for the exact supported fix level.
  • Upgrade affected 2018.4.1.0 through 2018.4.1.12 systems per IBM guidance.
  • Reduce unnecessary external exposure to affected HTTP/2 services.
  • Monitor gateway availability and HTTP/2 error patterns.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether each gateway runs versions 2018.4.1.0 through 2018.4.1.12.
  • Verify whether HTTP/2 endpoints are enabled and reachable.
  • Review logs for malformed HTTP/2 errors and unexplained service disruption.
  • Confirm remediation by recording fixed versions after upgrade.
  • Validate monitoring alerts for DataPower availability degradation.
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-2020-4579 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/AC:L/C:N/S:U/PR:N/I:N/A:H/AV:N/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
7.5CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/UI:N/AC:L/C:N/S:U/PR:N/I:N/A:H/AV:N/RC:C/RL:O/E:U3.93.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4579Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/AC:L/C:N/S:U/PR:N/I:N/A:H/AV:N/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
IBMDataPower Gateway2018.4.1.0, 2018.4.1.12Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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