CVE-2017-1119 in Marketing Operations
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Marketing Operations 9.1.0, 9.1.2, and 10.1 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information. An attacker could send a specially-crafted request to cause an error message to be returned containing the full root path. An attacker could use this information to launch further attacks against the affected system. IBM X-Force ID: 121171.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2023
This vulnerability exists in IBM Marketing Operations versions 9.1.0, 9.1.2, and 10.1, representing a classic information disclosure flaw that can be exploited remotely. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms within the application's request processing pipeline. When a malicious actor submits a specially crafted request to the affected system, the application fails to properly sanitize or filter the input before generating an error response. This misconfiguration results in the application returning detailed error messages that contain the full root path of the server filesystem, providing attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which describes "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture. The error handling mechanism lacks proper sanitization of error responses, allowing sensitive path information to be exposed to unauthenticated remote users. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it provides attackers with the complete directory structure of the target system, including absolute paths that may reveal application deployment details, file locations, and potentially sensitive configuration information. The vulnerability can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1083, Information Discovery, as it enables adversaries to gather system information that can be used for privilege escalation and further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with the foundational information needed to plan more sophisticated attacks against the target system. The exposed root path information can be used to construct targeted attacks against specific file locations, potentially enabling directory traversal attacks, file inclusion vulnerabilities, or other path-based exploits. Remote attackers can leverage this information to map the application's file structure, identify sensitive configuration files, and develop more effective attack vectors. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or local privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. Additionally, the exposure of system paths can aid in bypassing security controls and may reveal information about the underlying operating system and application stack that can be used to tailor more specific attacks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including proper error handling configuration to prevent detailed path information from being exposed in error messages. The recommended approach involves implementing generic error responses that do not reveal system-specific information, configuring proper input validation mechanisms, and ensuring that all error handling code properly sanitizes output before rendering. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns that might trigger this vulnerability. Regular security testing and code reviews should focus on error handling practices to prevent similar issues from occurring in other parts of the application. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper error handling in web applications and the potential consequences of exposing system information to unauthorized users.