CVE-2013-0476 in Sterling File Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator 5.1 and 5.2 and Sterling File Gateway 2.1 and 2.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary FTP commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0476 affects IBM Sterling B2B Integrator versions 5.1 and 5.2, as well as IBM Sterling File Gateway versions 2.1 and 2.2, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary File Transfer Protocol commands through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability falls under the category of command injection flaws that can be classified as CWE-77 according to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, which specifically addresses situations where applications execute commands based on user-supplied input without proper validation or sanitization. The affected systems operate within enterprise environments where secure data exchange and file transfer operations are critical, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could allow unauthorized access to sensitive business data and systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the FTP command processing components of these IBM products. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted input that gets interpreted as legitimate FTP commands rather than data to be processed. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the system could be leveraged for this attack, potentially including web interfaces, API endpoints, or direct protocol connections. This type of vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's command and control techniques, specifically the use of protocol manipulation and command injection to establish unauthorized access. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms, potentially gaining access to the underlying file systems and network resources that these integration platforms manage.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0476 extends beyond simple unauthorized command execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise and data exfiltration within enterprise environments. Organizations utilizing these IBM products face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive business documents, potential disruption of critical B2B operations, and exposure of proprietary information. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of business-to-business integration platforms, which typically handle large volumes of confidential transactions and data exchanges with trading partners. This makes the potential damage multiplier significant, as attackers could not only execute arbitrary commands but could also potentially modify or delete critical business data, disrupt operational workflows, and establish persistent access points within the enterprise network. The impact is particularly severe for financial institutions, healthcare organizations, and other regulated industries that depend on secure data exchange platforms.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released by IBM to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to these systems from untrusted networks, while implementing strict input validation and sanitization measures within the application layers. The principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect anomalous FTP command sequences that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in related systems and applications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for FTP command injection patterns. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security awareness training for system administrators and developers to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom applications that interface with these integration platforms.