CVE-2024-39750 Overview
IBM Analytics Content Hub 2.0 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability caused by improper return length checking [CWE-120]. A remote authenticated attacker can overflow a buffer to execute arbitrary code on the affected system or crash the server. The flaw affects the network-accessible interface of the product and requires only low-privileged authentication to exploit. IBM published a security advisory addressing the issue, and the CVE was made public through the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) in January 2025.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants arbitrary code execution on the host running IBM Analytics Content Hub, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of analytics data and downstream systems.
Affected Products
- IBM Analytics Content Hub 2.0
- Deployments exposing the Analytics Content Hub service to authenticated network users
- Environments integrating Analytics Content Hub with IBM Cognos and other analytics backends
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-25 - CVE-2024-39750 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-39750
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a classic buffer overflow rooted in improper return length checking. When the affected component processes input, it does not correctly validate the length returned by an internal function before copying data into a fixed-size buffer. This mismatch allows an attacker to write past the intended memory boundary. The out-of-bounds write can corrupt adjacent memory structures, including return addresses, function pointers, or heap metadata. Attackers can leverage this corruption to hijack control flow and execute arbitrary code within the process context of IBM Analytics Content Hub. The network attack vector combined with low privilege requirements makes the flaw practical for exploitation by any authenticated user with access to the service.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing or insufficient bounds check on a length value returned by an internal routine. The affected code path trusts the returned length and uses it to drive a memory copy operation. Because the check is improper, oversized inputs bypass validation and reach the vulnerable copy operation. This pattern falls under [CWE-120], Buffer Copy Without Checking Size of Input.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the IBM Analytics Content Hub service and valid credentials at any privilege tier. The attacker submits a crafted request containing input designed to trigger the improper length check. When the server processes the request, the oversized data overflows the target buffer. Outcomes range from process termination, producing a denial-of-service condition, to reliable arbitrary code execution when the attacker controls corrupted memory contents. No user interaction is required, and the impact remains within the vulnerable component's security scope.
IBM has not published exploitation code, and no public proof of concept is available. See the IBM security advisory for vendor guidance on impacted builds and fixes.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-39750
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes, restarts, or worker process failures within IBM Analytics Content Hub logs
- Anomalously large request payloads directed at Analytics Content Hub endpoints from authenticated sessions
- New or unexplained child processes spawned by the Analytics Content Hub service account
- Outbound network connections from the Analytics Content Hub host to untrusted destinations following authenticated activity
Detection Strategies
- Monitor application logs for stack traces, segmentation faults, or abnormal termination events tied to request handlers
- Inspect authenticated HTTP or API traffic for oversized parameters and malformed field lengths targeting Analytics Content Hub
- Correlate authentication events with subsequent process anomalies on the host to identify post-auth exploitation attempts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose audit logging on Analytics Content Hub and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation
- Alert on service restarts, memory faults, and unusual CPU or memory spikes on the Analytics Content Hub host
- Track privileged and low-privileged account activity patterns and flag deviations following successful authentication
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-39750
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the fix referenced in the IBM Analytics Content Hub advisory as soon as feasible
- Inventory all IBM Analytics Content Hub 2.0 deployments and confirm patch status across environments
- Restrict network access to the Analytics Content Hub service to trusted management networks and required user segments
- Rotate credentials for accounts with access to Analytics Content Hub if compromise is suspected
Patch Information
IBM has released a fix documented on the vendor support portal. Review the IBM Support advisory for node 7172787 for the specific fix pack, interim fix, or upgrade path applicable to your deployment. Apply the vendor-supplied update in a staged manner, validating analytics workflows and integrations after patching.
Workarounds
- Limit authenticated access to Analytics Content Hub through network segmentation, VPN, or firewall rules until patching is complete
- Enforce least privilege on Analytics Content Hub accounts and remove unused or dormant users to reduce the exploitable surface
- Place a web application firewall or reverse proxy in front of the service and enforce strict request size limits on inbound traffic
- Increase monitoring coverage on the Analytics Content Hub host and its service account activity during the exposure window
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
