CVE-2020-4654Network attack vector

Account impersonation via persistent logged-out sessions

Published Oct 8, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Improper access control in IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0.0 through 6.1.1.0 allows remote authenticated users to read sensitive data. The user interface fails to invalidate a session at logout, allowing that retained session to impersonate another user. Exploitation requires valid low-privilege access and is limited to information available through the impersonated account.

CVSS severity3.1
Low
EPSS probability0.74%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0.0 through 6.1.1.0 allows remote authenticated users to read sensitive data. The user interface fails to invalidate a session at logout, allowing that retained session to impersonate another user. Exploitation requires valid low-privilege access and is limited to information available through the impersonated account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4654
Published
Oct 8, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Sterling File Gateway
Classifications
T1550.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 8, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.2.0.0
  2. Affected versionversion=5.2.6.5_3
  3. Affected versionversion=6.0.0.0
  4. Affected versionversion=6.0.3.4
  5. Affected versionversion=6.1.0.0
  6. Affected versionversion=6.1.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Sterling File Gatewayversion=2.2.0.0; version=5.2.6.5_3; version=6.0.0.0; version=6.0.3.4; version=6.1.0.0; version=6.1.0.1

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
3.1IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1550.004Web Session Cookie

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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