CVE-2015-5024 in Emptoris Sourcing
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Emptoris Sourcing 10.0.2.0 before iFix6, 10.0.2.2 before iFix11, 10.0.2.3, 10.0.2.5 before iFix4, 10.0.2.6 before iFix8, 10.0.2.7 before iFix1, and 10.0.4.x before iFix2 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive supplier-bid information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5024 affects IBM Emptoris Sourcing software versions across multiple release streams including 10.0.2.0 through 10.0.2.7 and 10.0.4.x, specifically before their respective iFix patches were applied. This represents a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the confidentiality controls within the procurement platform designed to protect sensitive business data. The vulnerability impacts organizations utilizing the sourcing module for supplier management and bid evaluation processes where competitive information must remain protected throughout the procurement lifecycle.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and authorization mechanisms within the IBM Emptoris Sourcing platform. Attackers with valid authentication credentials can exploit unspecified vectors to access supplier-bid information that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This type of flaw typically manifests through improper input validation, weak session management, or inadequate privilege enforcement within the application's security architecture. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges beyond legitimate user authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised legitimate users.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on IBM Emptoris Sourcing for their procurement processes. The exposure of supplier bid information compromises competitive positioning and can lead to financial losses through bid manipulation or competitive intelligence gathering by unauthorized parties. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues, especially in industries governed by procurement regulations such as government contracting or financial services. The disclosure of pricing strategies, supplier capabilities, and negotiation positions can fundamentally alter market dynamics and undermine the integrity of the sourcing process. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege.
The security implications extend beyond immediate information disclosure to encompass potential business disruption and reputational damage. Organizations may experience loss of competitive advantage when supplier pricing information becomes publicly available, potentially leading to reduced negotiation leverage and increased procurement costs. The vulnerability also raises concerns about supply chain security and the protection of sensitive business relationships. Companies utilizing this platform may need to implement additional monitoring and access control measures while awaiting vendor patches, though such workarounds may not fully address the underlying architectural weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate application of the vendor-provided iFix patches for all affected versions to resolve the access control vulnerabilities. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their procurement processes and implement additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts. Network segmentation and enhanced logging capabilities can help identify potential exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify proper access control implementation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect critical business applications. This issue also highlights the necessity of following ATT&CK framework principles for identifying and mitigating access control vulnerabilities in enterprise procurement systems.