CVE-2017-1097 in Emptoris Strategic Supply Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Emptoris Strategic Supply Management Platform 10.0.0.x through 10.1.1.x is vulnerable to cross-site request forgery which could allow an attacker to execute malicious and unauthorized actions transmitted from a user that the website trusts. IBM X-Force ID: 120657.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1097 affects the IBM Emptoris Strategic Supply Management Platform version 10.0.0.x through 10.1.1.x, representing a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that compromises the platform's security integrity. This vulnerability resides within the web application layer of the supply management system, which is designed to facilitate procurement processes and supplier collaboration. The affected platform serves as a centralized hub for enterprise supply chain operations, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to manipulate user sessions and execute unauthorized actions without proper authentication, potentially compromising sensitive procurement data and operational workflows.
Cross-site request forgery represents a sophisticated attack vector that exploits the trust relationship between web applications and users. The technical flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate and verify the origin of HTTP requests, enabling attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the target system. This weakness specifically affects the platform's session management and request validation processes, where the application does not adequately implement anti-CSRF tokens or other protective mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, targeting the platform's web interface and API endpoints that handle procurement transactions, supplier communications, and administrative functions. Attackers can leverage this flaw by tricking authenticated users into executing unintended operations through carefully crafted malicious links or embedded content that exploits the trust relationship between the user and the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it enables attackers to perform critical procurement actions that could result in significant financial loss and operational disruption. An attacker could manipulate supplier records, modify procurement orders, or alter contract terms without detection, potentially leading to unauthorized purchases or supply chain disruptions. The vulnerability affects the platform's ability to maintain data integrity and authorization controls, as malicious requests can be executed under the guise of legitimate user sessions. This threat particularly impacts enterprise procurement processes where the platform handles sensitive supplier information, contract negotiations, and financial transactions. The consequences include potential unauthorized financial transactions, data corruption, and compromise of supplier relationships, while also undermining the platform's overall security posture and regulatory compliance requirements.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected systems to the latest supported versions of the IBM Emptoris platform. The implementation of anti-CSRF tokens should be enforced across all user-facing endpoints and API interfaces, ensuring that each request includes unique validation parameters that prevent unauthorized operations. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the platform to internal and external threats, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous user behavior patterns. Security awareness training for procurement staff should emphasize the importance of verifying request origins and avoiding suspicious links or content. The mitigation approach aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities, and follows ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to validate the effectiveness of implemented controls, while maintaining detailed audit logs to track all procurement-related activities and identify potential exploitation attempts.