CVE-2024-55904 Overview
CVE-2024-55904 is a command injection vulnerability affecting IBM DevOps Deploy and IBM UrbanCode Deploy. A remote authenticated attacker with high privileges can execute arbitrary operating system commands by sending specially crafted input containing special elements. The flaw is classified under CWE-78, improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command.
Affected versions span multiple release trains of both product families. IBM published a security bulletin and remediation guidance on the IBM Support Page. Successful exploitation compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the deployment automation server.
Critical Impact
An authenticated administrator can execute arbitrary OS commands on the DevOps Deploy or UrbanCode Deploy server, gaining full control of a system that orchestrates application deployments across enterprise pipelines.
Affected Products
- IBM DevOps Deploy 8.0 through 8.0.1.4 and 8.1 through 8.1.0.0
- IBM UrbanCode Deploy 7.0 through 7.0.5.25, 7.1 through 7.1.2.21, and 7.2 through 7.2.3.14
- IBM UrbanCode Deploy 7.3 through 7.3.2.9
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-02-14 - CVE-2024-55904 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-55904
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2024-55904 is an OS command injection flaw (CWE-78) in the IBM DevOps Deploy and UrbanCode Deploy server components. The application processes attacker-supplied input without adequately neutralizing shell metacharacters before passing values into a system command context. An authenticated user with elevated privileges can append additional commands to legitimate operations executed by the server process.
Because DevOps Deploy and UrbanCode Deploy orchestrate application releases across production environments, code execution on the deployment server extends the blast radius into every downstream target the server can reach. Compromised credentials on the deployment platform effectively become code execution on connected build agents, artifact repositories, and target hosts.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient input sanitization on parameters that are ultimately incorporated into an operating system command invocation. Special elements such as shell metacharacters, command separators, or subshell operators are not neutralized before the composed command string is executed by the underlying OS.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the DevOps Deploy or UrbanCode Deploy management interface and valid credentials with high privileges. The attacker submits crafted input through an authenticated API or UI channel that reaches the vulnerable command-composition code path. No user interaction is required, and the attack complexity is low once authenticated access is obtained.
No public proof-of-concept exploit has been published, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the IBM security bulletin for vendor-supplied technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-55904
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by the DevOps Deploy or UrbanCode Deploy server process, particularly shells such as sh, bash, cmd.exe, or powershell.exe.
- Outbound network connections from the deployment server to unfamiliar hosts shortly after administrative API requests.
- Anomalous entries in server application logs containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &&, backticks, $()) in input fields.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor process creation telemetry on hosts running DevOps Deploy or UrbanCode Deploy for shell interpreters descending from the Java server process.
- Alert on administrative API calls originating from unusual source addresses or accounts outside normal operating hours.
- Correlate authentication events for privileged accounts with subsequent process execution anomalies on the deployment server.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward application, audit, and OS process logs from DevOps Deploy and UrbanCode Deploy servers to a centralized SIEM for retention and correlation.
- Enable verbose audit logging for privileged actions and API calls that accept free-form parameters.
- Baseline normal command execution patterns for the server process and alert on deviations.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-55904
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the fixed versions published by IBM in the security bulletin for both DevOps Deploy and UrbanCode Deploy.
- Rotate credentials for all privileged accounts on affected servers, especially if audit logs cannot rule out prior misuse.
- Restrict network access to the management interface using firewall rules or a bastion host.
Patch Information
IBM has released fixed versions for each supported branch of DevOps Deploy and UrbanCode Deploy. Consult the IBM Support Page for the specific fix pack versions corresponding to your deployed release and follow IBM's documented upgrade procedure.
Workarounds
- Reduce the number of accounts granted high-privilege roles within DevOps Deploy and UrbanCode Deploy until patching completes.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication on all administrative accounts to raise the barrier for credential-based exploitation.
- Isolate the deployment server on a management network segment with strict egress filtering to limit post-exploitation activity.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
