CVE-2013-5409 in Sterling File Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in IBM Sterling B2B Integrator 5.2 and Sterling File Gateway 2.2 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5409 represents a critical security flaw affecting IBM Sterling B2B Integrator version 5.2 and Sterling File Gateway version 2.2 systems. This vulnerability manifests as multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities that can be exploited by remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands on affected systems. The flaw resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input within database query operations, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database interactions through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on these IBM integration platforms for business-to-business transactions and file transfers, potentially compromising sensitive data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the affected IBM products. When authenticated users submit data through various application interfaces, the system fails to properly escape or parameterize input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed by the database engine, potentially enabling data extraction, modification, or deletion operations. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the applications may be vulnerable, making the attack surface broader and more difficult to predict. This weakness aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is used in SQL commands without proper validation or escaping.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to underlying database systems and potentially escalate privileges within the affected environments. Remote authenticated attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to extract sensitive business data, modify transaction records, or even establish persistent access through database-level backdoors. Organizations using these integration platforms may face significant regulatory compliance issues if customer data or business-critical information is compromised, particularly in industries governed by standards such as pci dss, hipaa, or gdpr. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to map network topology and identify additional targets within the enterprise infrastructure that may share database connections or authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-5409 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with IBM security updates and hotfixes. Organizations must implement comprehensive input validation and parameterized query mechanisms across all application interfaces to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future development cycles. Network segmentation and database access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database query patterns or unauthorized access attempts that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar injection vulnerabilities within the broader application ecosystem. The remediation process should align with industry best practices outlined in the mitre attack framework, particularly focusing on preventing initial access and limiting lateral movement within compromised environments. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions as additional protective layers against similar SQL injection threats.