CVE-2017-1336 in InfoSphere BigInsights
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Infosphere BigInsights 4.2.0 could allow an attacker to inject code that could allow access to restricted data and files. IBM X-Force ID: 126244.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2021
IBM Infosphere BigInsights version 4.2.0 contains a critical code injection vulnerability that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within its data processing and management components. This flaw exists in the system's handling of user-supplied data inputs, particularly within the administrative interfaces and data ingestion pathways that process external data feeds. The vulnerability arises from the application's failure to properly sanitize and validate data inputs before processing, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject arbitrary code that can execute within the context of the application's privileges. The issue is particularly concerning as it affects the core data management functionality of the platform, which typically operates with elevated permissions and access to sensitive enterprise data repositories. According to the CWE taxonomy, this vulnerability maps to CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" - a well-established category of vulnerabilities that have historically led to severe security breaches in enterprise data platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access violations, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to restricted files, databases, and system resources that are typically protected by access controls. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code that might escalate privileges, establish persistence mechanisms, or exfiltrate sensitive information from the BigInsights environment. The attack surface is particularly broad given that BigInsights serves as a comprehensive data analytics platform that often handles confidential business data, customer information, and proprietary datasets. The vulnerability's exploitation could potentially lead to data breaches, compliance violations, and significant financial and reputational damage to organizations relying on this platform for their data processing needs. Organizations using this version of BigInsights may find themselves vulnerable to attacks that align with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter" techniques used by adversaries to execute malicious code on compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM patches and updates, as the vendor would have released specific fixes addressing the input validation gaps in the affected version. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the vulnerable components, while also deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their BigInsights deployments to identify all instances running version 4.2.0 and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious inputs, conducting regular security assessments of the platform's administrative interfaces, and establishing monitoring protocols for unusual file access patterns or unauthorized data transfers. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in enterprise data platforms, as it demonstrates how insufficient sanitization of user inputs can create pathways for privilege escalation and unauthorized data access that can compromise entire data ecosystems. Organizations should also consider implementing zero-trust security models that verify all access requests regardless of their source, particularly for systems handling sensitive data environments like those supported by IBM Infosphere BigInsights.