CVE-2026-56460: HCL DevOps Deploy Information Disclosure

CVE-2026-56460 Overview

CVE-2026-56460 is an information disclosure vulnerability in HCL DevOps Deploy and HCL Launch. The affected API responses expose sensitive configuration data and secrets to authenticated users. Attackers with valid low-privilege accounts can retrieve these values and use them to escalate access or pivot within the deployment environment. The weakness is classified under [CWE-201] (Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data).

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can harvest configuration secrets from API responses and reuse them to attack downstream systems managed by HCL DevOps Deploy or HCL Launch.

Affected Products

HCL DevOps Deploy
HCL Launch
Refer to the HCL Software Knowledge Base Article for exact fixed versions

Discovery Timeline

2026-07-09 - CVE-2026-56460 published to NVD
2026-07-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-56460

Vulnerability Analysis

HCL DevOps Deploy and HCL Launch expose administrative and deployment functionality through REST APIs. Certain API endpoints return response objects that include sensitive fields such as credentials, tokens, and configuration properties. Any authenticated user with access to these endpoints can read the disclosed data, regardless of whether they need it for their role.

The vulnerability requires network access to the application and a valid low-privilege account. It does not require user interaction. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability are unaffected because the flaw only leaks data.

Disclosed secrets can include deployment credentials, service account tokens, and integration keys. Attackers can use these secondary credentials to move laterally into build systems, target environments, and connected infrastructure.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper filtering of sensitive fields in API response serialization. The application returns full object representations instead of redacted or scoped views for the requesting user's role. This maps directly to [CWE-201], where sensitive information is inserted into data sent to clients who should not receive it.

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker sends requests to the vulnerable API endpoints exposed by HCL DevOps Deploy or HCL Launch. The server returns JSON or XML payloads that contain configuration entries and secrets in plaintext or reversibly encoded form. The attacker parses the responses, extracts credentials, and reuses them against connected systems. See the HCL Software Knowledge Base Article for the specific endpoints and fixed versions.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-56460

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual volumes of authenticated GET requests against configuration, component, or property API endpoints from a single user or token.
API responses returning secret or password fields to accounts that do not require them for normal workflow.
Reuse of extracted service credentials from source IPs that differ from the original HCL DevOps Deploy or HCL Launch server.

Detection Strategies

Review application audit logs for enumeration patterns against /rest/ and property endpoints in HCL DevOps Deploy and HCL Launch.
Correlate authenticated API access with subsequent authentication attempts on downstream deployment targets using the same credentials.
Baseline normal API call rates per role and alert on deviations from low-privilege accounts.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose HTTP access logging on the HCL Launch server and forward logs to a centralized SIEM.
Monitor for API responses containing keywords such as password, secret, token, or credential in outbound traffic.
Track credential use across integrated systems and flag credentials that appear from unexpected source contexts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-56460

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the patch referenced in the HCL Software Knowledge Base Article as soon as it is available for your version.
Rotate all secrets, deployment credentials, and integration tokens stored in HCL DevOps Deploy and HCL Launch.
Review authenticated user accounts and revoke any that are no longer needed.

Patch Information

HCL Software has published guidance in Knowledge Base article KB0131697. Administrators should consult this reference for fixed versions and upgrade procedures for HCL DevOps Deploy and HCL Launch.

Workarounds

Restrict API access to trusted network segments using firewall or reverse proxy rules until the patch is applied.
Reduce user permissions so that only accounts with an operational need can call configuration and property endpoints.
Store sensitive values in an external secrets manager and reference them by identifier rather than embedding them in HCL Launch component properties.

bash

# Example: restrict access to the HCL Launch API at the reverse proxy
location /rest/ {
    allow 10.0.0.0/8;
    deny all;
    proxy_pass https://hcl-launch-backend;
}