CVE-2015-1904 in Business Process Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Business Process Manager (BPM) 8.0.x through 8.0.1.3, 8.5.0 through 8.5.0.1, 8.5.5 through 8.5.5.0, and 8.5.6 through 8.5.6.0, when external Enterprise Content Management (ECM) integration is enabled with a certain technical system account configuration, allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended document-access restrictions via a (1) upload or (2) download action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1904 affects IBM Business Process Manager versions within specific release ranges, creating a critical authorization bypass flaw when integrated with Enterprise Content Management systems. This vulnerability specifically manifests when certain technical system account configurations are implemented, allowing authenticated remote attackers to circumvent document access controls during upload and download operations. The flaw represents a significant security regression that undermines the integrity of document access controls within enterprise BPM environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of access permissions during ECM integration processes. When external ECM systems are configured with particular technical account settings, the BPM platform fails to properly verify user authorization levels before permitting document operations. This weakness creates a path where authenticated users can manipulate the system to access documents they should not be authorized to view or modify. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of authentication and authorization controls, specifically targeting the document management layer of the BPM platform. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authorization mechanisms where access control decisions are made incorrectly, falling under CWE-285 for improper authorization and CWE-284 for improper access control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables potential data exfiltration and content manipulation within enterprise environments. Attackers can leverage this flaw to download sensitive documents that should be restricted to specific user groups or roles, potentially exposing confidential business information, intellectual property, or personally identifiable information. The ability to upload documents with elevated privileges could allow malicious actors to introduce malware or manipulate business processes through unauthorized content insertion. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of enterprise data, particularly in regulated industries where document access controls are critical for compliance requirements.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including patching to supported versions of IBM BPM, reviewing and tightening ECM integration account configurations, and implementing additional access controls through network segmentation. The recommended approach involves disabling external ECM integration when not required, enforcing strict account permissions, and conducting thorough access control reviews. Security teams should also monitor for suspicious upload and download activities, as these operations may serve as indicators of exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and credential access techniques, specifically targeting T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through system interactions. Organizations should consider implementing additional logging and monitoring around ECM integration points to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails for compliance purposes.