CVE-2016-5893 in Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition 5.2 allows web pages to be stored locally which can be read by another user on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 115336.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5893 affects IBM Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition version 5.2, representing a critical security flaw in the web application's file handling mechanisms. This issue stems from improper access controls and inadequate isolation between user sessions within the application's local storage system. The vulnerability enables a malicious user to exploit the platform's file storage functionality in a manner that compromises data confidentiality and potentially leads to unauthorized information disclosure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's local file storage architecture, where web pages and related resources are persisted on the system's filesystem. When the application processes and stores these web assets locally, it fails to properly enforce user-specific access controls or isolation mechanisms. This allows one authenticated user to potentially access or read files that were originally stored by another user within the same system environment. The flaw essentially creates a cross-user data leakage scenario where the boundary between individual user contexts becomes porous, violating fundamental security principles of data segregation and access control enforcement.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing IBM Sterling B2B Integrator for business-to-business transactions and data exchange processes. The potential impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass possible exposure of sensitive business data, transaction records, or proprietary information that may be stored locally within the application's file system. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to other users' session data, potentially leading to session hijacking, data manipulation, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users share the same system instance or where administrative privileges are not properly segregated.
The flaw aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a specific instance of inadequate access control mechanisms within web applications. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability can be categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1083 for File and Directory Discovery, as it enables unauthorized access to stored files and potentially reveals system structure information. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, reviewing and strengthening access controls, implementing proper file system permissions, and conducting thorough security assessments of the application's local storage mechanisms. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of file access patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining proper user isolation and access control enforcement in multi-user web applications, particularly those handling sensitive business data in B2B integration environments.