CVE-2017-1192 in Sterling B2B Integrator
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator 5.2 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose highly sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 123663.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1192 represents a critical XML External Entity Injection flaw in IBM Sterling B2B Integrator version 5.2, which falls under the broader category of CWE-611 Information Exposure Through Improperly Constructed XML. This vulnerability stems from the software's insufficient validation of XML input data, specifically when processing external entities that can be defined within XML documents. The flaw allows an attacker to manipulate the XML parser behavior by introducing external entity references that point to internal system resources or network locations, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access and potential system compromise.
The technical implementation of this XXE vulnerability occurs when the IBM Sterling B2B Integrator application processes incoming XML messages without proper sanitization of external entity declarations. When an XML document contains a DOCTYPE declaration with external entity references, the parser may resolve these references and attempt to access the specified resources, either local files on the server or remote network endpoints. This behavior creates multiple attack vectors where an adversary can leverage the vulnerability to perform server-side request forgery attacks, access local files through file inclusion mechanisms, or consume excessive system resources through malicious entity expansion attacks that can lead to denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform reconnaissance activities against internal network infrastructure and potentially escalate privileges within the system. IBM X-Force ID 123663 indicates that the vulnerability has been actively monitored and classified as a significant risk, particularly in environments where the B2B Integrator handles sensitive business transactions and data exchanges. Attackers can exploit this weakness to extract confidential business data, system configuration information, or credentials stored in accessible files, while also potentially consuming excessive memory resources through crafted XML payloads that trigger resource exhaustion conditions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1192 should focus on implementing comprehensive XML input validation and sanitization measures, including disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers and restricting access to local resources. Organizations should consider applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates, while implementing network segmentation to limit access to the affected system. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories and T1499.004 for Resource Hijacking, as it enables both information extraction and resource consumption attacks. Additionally, implementing proper input validation controls and using secure XML parsing libraries that do not automatically resolve external entities can significantly reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of this XXE vulnerability in production environments.