CVE-2017-1174 in Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition 5.2 is vulnerable to SQL injection. A remote attacker could send specially-crafted SQL statements, which could allow the attacker to view, add, modify or delete information in the back-end database. IBM X-Force ID: 123296.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2021
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition version 5.2 contains a critical sql injection vulnerability that exposes the backend database to unauthorized access. This flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious sql commands through specially crafted input parameters, bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the application's database interaction layers, creating an attack surface where malicious sql payloads can be directly interpreted and executed by the underlying database engine. The affected system processes user inputs without proper parameterization or input filtering, enabling attackers to manipulate sql queries and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration cwe-89 sql injection, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform data manipulation operations including select statements to extract confidential information, insert commands to add malicious records, update operations to modify existing data, and delete functions to remove critical database entries. The attack vector typically involves manipulating form fields, url parameters, or api endpoints that interface with the backend database. This vulnerability can be leveraged to compromise the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the entire backend data infrastructure, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within the network infrastructure. Successful exploitation allows adversaries to access sensitive business data including customer information, transaction records, and proprietary business intelligence. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the system by enabling unauthorized data modification, which can lead to financial loss, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. Organizations using this software version face significant risk of data breaches and potential regulatory penalties under standards such as gdpr, pci dss, and hipaa. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the affected software version to address the sql injection vulnerability. Organizations must implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent malicious sql payloads from being executed. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting database user permissions and implementing proper access controls. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application stack. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for suspicious database activity. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input sanitization mechanisms provides additional layers of protection against sql injection attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following secure coding practices to prevent exploitation of fundamental web application flaws. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect and respond to unauthorized database access attempts.