# CVE-2020-4759: Code injection in FileNet Content Manager

> A remote attacker can execute arbitrary commands on IBM FileNet Content Manager due to improper validation of CSV file contents.

- **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:3.0/C:H/AC:H/A:H/S:U/PR:N/AV:L/UI:R/I:H/RC:C/E:U/RL:O`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Nov 2020
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wq79-2f22-34w5

## What is CVE-2020-4759?

CVE-2020-4759 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in IBM FileNet Content Manager, published on 9 Nov 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

IBM FileNet Content Manager 5.5.4 and 5.5.5 is potentially vulnerable to CVS Injection. A remote attacker could execute arbitrary commands on the system, caused by improper validation of csv file contents. IBM X-Force ID: 188736.

Weakness: CWE-1236 (Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-4759?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Filenet Content Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-4759?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-4759 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-4759 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-4759 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in IBM FileNet Content Manager

- [CVE-2018-1844](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1844/): XML external entity in FileNet Content Manager (high 7.1)
- [CVE-2010-3320](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3320/): Open redirect in n/a (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2021-38965](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38965/): Command injection in FileNet Content Manager (medium 6.3)
- [CVE-2020-4447](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4447/): Cross-site scripting in FileNet Content Manager (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2023-38366](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38366/): IBM FileNet Content Manager directory traversal (medium 5.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-4759 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-4759 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in IBM FileNet Content Manager, published on 9 Nov 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-4759 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: IBM FileNet Content Manager. 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-2020-4759/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4759/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-4759
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-4759
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-4759

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4759/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.
