CVE-2015-1884 in Business Process Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in IBM Business Process Manager (BPM) 7.5.x through 7.5.1.2, 8.0.x through 8.0.1.3, 8.5.0 through 8.5.0.1, and 8.5.5 through 8.5.5.0 and WebSphere Lombardi Edition (WLE) 7.2 through 7.2.0.5 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a crafted internationalization-file URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1884 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting IBM Business Process Manager versions 7.5.x through 7.5.1.2, 8.0.x through 8.0.1.3, 8.5.0 through 8.5.0.1, and 8.5.5 through 8.5.5.0, along with WebSphere Lombardi Edition 7.2 through 7.2.0.5. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the internationalization file handling mechanism of these enterprise process management platforms. The flaw enables authenticated remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the underlying file system by crafting malicious URLs that exploit improper path resolution during internationalization file processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper sanitization of user-supplied input when processing internationalization files within the IBM BPM and WLE frameworks. Attackers can manipulate URL parameters to traverse directory structures and access sensitive files such as configuration files, source code, database credentials, or other system resources that should remain restricted. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is categorized under the broader weakness of path traversal attacks. The vulnerability specifically exploits the lack of proper validation and sanitization of file paths during internationalization file resolution, allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls and file system restrictions.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1884 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to critical system components that could lead to further compromise. An authenticated attacker with access to the system can leverage this vulnerability to read sensitive files including but not limited to web application configuration files, database connection strings, cryptographic keys, and potentially even source code repositories. This information disclosure could enable attackers to escalate their privileges, conduct additional reconnaissance, or develop more sophisticated attack vectors. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of IBM BPM and WLE creates widespread exposure across enterprise environments that utilize these platforms for business process automation and workflow management.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released by IBM to address the directory traversal flaw. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit the attack surface, particularly restricting access to the affected systems from untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or attempts to exploit path traversal vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, indicating that attackers may use such flaws to enumerate system resources and gather intelligence for further exploitation. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, along with regular security assessments and penetration testing, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.