CVE-2012-5936 in Sterling B2B Integrator
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator 5.1 and 5.2 and Sterling File Gateway 2.1 and 2.2 do not set the secure flag for the session cookie in an https session, which makes it easier for remote attackers to capture this cookie by intercepting its transmission within an http session.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5936 affects IBM Sterling B2B Integrator versions 5.1 and 5.2, as well as Sterling File Gateway versions 2.1 and 2.2. This security flaw represents a critical configuration issue that undermines the integrity of session management within these enterprise integration platforms. The vulnerability stems from the improper implementation of session cookie security attributes, specifically the absence of the secure flag in HTTPS sessions. This misconfiguration creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive business-to-business integration environments.
The technical flaw manifests when the application generates session cookies for user authentication within HTTPS sessions but fails to include the secure flag in the cookie attributes. The secure flag is a critical HTTP cookie attribute that instructs web browsers to only transmit the cookie over secure HTTPS connections and never over unencrypted HTTP connections. Without this flag, session cookies become vulnerable to interception during man-in-the-middle attacks or network eavesdropping scenarios where attackers can capture the cookie while it travels through unencrypted channels. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-614, which describes the weakness of storing sensitive data in cookies without proper security attributes, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing and credential dumping.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive business data within the integration platform. Organizations using these IBM products may experience unauthorized access to critical business processes, data exfiltration, and potential disruption of enterprise integration workflows. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where HTTPS termination occurs at load balancers or reverse proxies, as the cookie may be transmitted in cleartext between the proxy and backend servers, or between the user's browser and the proxy. This creates multiple attack vectors where session cookies can be intercepted and reused by malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5936 should focus on implementing proper cookie security configurations within the affected IBM products. Organizations should ensure that all session cookies generated by the Sterling B2B Integrator and Sterling File Gateway applications include the secure flag in their HTTP responses. This can be achieved through configuration updates, application patching, or middleware-level fixes that enforce secure cookie attributes. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential cookie interception attempts and ensure that all communications between client systems and the integration platforms occur exclusively over encrypted channels. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and adherence to secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks to prevent similar configuration weaknesses in enterprise integration environments.