# CVE-2019-4538: Open redirect in Security Directory Server

> Remote attackers can exploit an open redirect in IBM Security Directory Server to spoof URLs and phish sensitive user information.

- **Severity:** High 7.4 (`CVSS:3.0/PR:N/A:N/I:H/AV:N/S:C/C:N/AC:L/UI:R/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Oct 2019
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g9p5-gr7x-x74r

## What is CVE-2019-4538?

CVE-2019-4538 is a high-severity vulnerability in IBM Security Directory Server, published on 2 Oct 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

IBM Security Directory Server 6.4.0 could allow a remote attacker to conduct phishing attacks, using an open redirect attack. By persuading a victim to visit a specially-crafted Web site, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to spoof the URL displayed to redirect a user to a malicious Web site that would appear to be trusted. This could allow the attacker to obtain highly sensitive information or conduct further attacks against the victim. IBM X-Force ID: 165660.

Weakness: CWE-601 (URL Redirection to Untrusted Site)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-4538?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Security Directory Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-4538?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-4538 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-4538 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-4538 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in IBM Security Directory Server

- [CVE-2022-33164](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-33164/): IBM Security Directory Server path traversal (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2019-4520](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4520/): Security feature bypass in Security Directory Server (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2015-1977](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1977/): Path traversal in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-4539](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4539/): XML external entity in Security Directory Server (high 7.1)
- [CVE-2019-4541](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4541/): Security feature bypass in Security Directory Server (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-4538 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-4538 is a high-severity vulnerability in IBM Security Directory Server, published on 2 Oct 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-4538 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: IBM Security Directory Server. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4538/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4538/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-4538
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-4538
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-4538

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4538/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.