CVE-2017-1269 in Security Guardium
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium 10.0 and 10.1 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: 124744
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
IBM Security Guardium versions 10.0 and 10.1 contain a critical SQL injection vulnerability that exposes the backend database to unauthorized access. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's database interaction components, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through carefully crafted input fields. The flaw exists in the way the system processes user-supplied data when constructing database queries, creating an environment where attacker-controlled SQL syntax can be executed with the privileges of the application's database user account. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a significant threat to database integrity and confidentiality. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers would need to identify and exploit this weakness to gain deeper system access. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries can target the vulnerable system from outside the network perimeter without requiring local system access or credentials, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that expose Guardium instances to external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database manipulation capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute SELECT statements to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, financial records, and proprietary business information. The ability to perform INSERT operations allows threat actors to add malicious entries or backdoors into the database, while UPDATE and DELETE functions enable data corruption, modification, or complete data removal. This vulnerability affects the core functionality of IBM Security Guardium, which is designed to monitor and protect database activities, creating a paradox where the security tool itself becomes a potential attack vector. Organizations relying on Guardium for database activity monitoring would experience a complete compromise of their data protection mechanisms, as the attacker could manipulate the very system meant to detect and prevent unauthorized database access. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the fact that Guardium typically operates with elevated privileges to perform its monitoring functions, potentially allowing attackers to escalate their access level within the database environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. IBM released security patches and updates specifically addressing this vulnerability, which organizations must apply immediately to prevent exploitation. The recommended approach includes implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase to eliminate the possibility of SQL injection attacks. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks, while establishing comprehensive monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and database activity monitoring tools can provide additional layers of protection by identifying and blocking suspicious SQL injection patterns. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potential injection points within the application and related systems, as this vulnerability may indicate broader architectural weaknesses in input handling and data validation. Regular security training for developers on secure coding practices and adherence to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases, while maintaining strict change management processes ensures that security patches are deployed consistently across all affected systems.