CVE-2016-2957 in Connections
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Connections 4.0 through CR4, 4.5 through CR5, and 5.0 before CR4 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information by reading a stack trace in a response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
IBM Connections versions 4.0 through CR4, 4.5 through CR5, and 5.0 before CR4 contain a vulnerability that exposes sensitive information through stack trace disclosure. This flaw affects authenticated users who can access certain application components that generate detailed error responses containing internal system information. The vulnerability stems from insufficient error handling mechanisms within the application's response generation process, where stack traces are returned to clients without proper sanitization or access controls. When authenticated users make specific requests that trigger application errors, the system responds with complete stack trace information that includes file paths, method names, class names, and potentially sensitive system details. This information disclosure vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which addresses the exposure of stack trace information, and represents a significant security risk as it provides attackers with detailed insights into the application's internal architecture and potential attack vectors. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed stack trace data can reveal database connection strings, file system locations, and internal application logic that could be leveraged for subsequent attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1212, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities, and T1566, which covers initial access through social engineering or exploitation of software flaws. The vulnerability exists in the application's error handling subsystem where exceptions are not properly caught and sanitized before being returned to the client. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specific authenticated requests that will trigger application errors, thereby retrieving the stack trace information. This represents a privilege escalation scenario where authenticated users can access information they should not normally have access to, potentially leading to more sophisticated attacks such as injection attacks or system compromise. The affected versions of IBM Connections implement error handling that does not adequately filter or suppress stack trace information, making it accessible to users who have authenticated to the system. Organizations should implement proper error handling mechanisms that sanitize error responses, implement comprehensive logging of error conditions, and ensure that stack traces are not returned to client applications. Security controls should include monitoring for unusual error response patterns, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests that trigger error responses, and ensuring that all error messages are generic and do not contain sensitive system information. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper error handling in web applications and aligns with industry standards that emphasize the need for secure error handling practices to prevent information disclosure attacks. Organizations using affected IBM Connections versions should immediately apply the relevant security patches provided by IBM to mitigate this vulnerability and protect against potential exploitation attempts that could lead to more severe security incidents.