CVE-2012-5937 in Sterling File Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the CLA2 server in IBM Gentran Integration Suite 4.3, Sterling Integrator 5.0 and 5.1, and Sterling B2B Integrator 5.2, as used in IBM Sterling File Gateway 1.1 through 2.2 and other products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via unknown vectors.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5937 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within IBM's enterprise integration suite products including Gentran Integration Suite 4.3, Sterling Integrator 5.0 and 5.1, and Sterling B2B Integrator 5.2. This vulnerability affects IBM Sterling File Gateway versions 1.1 through 2.2 and other related products within the IBM Sterling suite ecosystem. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors makes this particularly concerning as it could potentially encompass multiple attack surfaces within the CLA2 server component that handles communication and processing functions for enterprise file and business-to-business integration scenarios.
The technical flaw resides in the CLA2 server implementation which serves as a core communication component for IBM's integration platforms. This server component processes incoming requests and manages data flow between various integration points within enterprise environments. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems, potentially providing them with complete control over the targeted servers. Such a flaw typically indicates a lack of proper input validation or sanitization mechanisms within the server's processing pipeline, enabling malicious actors to inject and execute unauthorized code sequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple system compromise, as it affects enterprise integration environments that typically handle sensitive business data and critical operational processes. Organizations using affected IBM products could face severe consequences including data breaches, system infiltration, and disruption of business continuity operations. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed integration servers. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-78 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and represents a significant risk to enterprise security postures.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses organizations utilizing IBM Sterling products in their integration architectures, particularly those with exposed integration servers or file gateway components. The impact is amplified when considering that these products typically operate in high-security environments handling financial transactions, healthcare data, or other sensitive information. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to critical business processes, potential data exfiltration, and complete system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product versions from 4.3 through 2.2 indicates a widespread issue affecting the entire product lineage, requiring comprehensive patching across affected deployments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying official IBM security patches, network segmentation to isolate affected systems, and monitoring for suspicious network activity. The vulnerability's classification as remote code execution places it within the ATT&CK framework under T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, representing a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure. Additional defensive measures should include restricting network access to integration servers, implementing intrusion detection systems, and conducting thorough security assessments of integration environments. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure preparedness for potential exploitation of this vulnerability in their production environments.