CVE-2017-1356 in Atlas eDiscovery Process Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Atlas eDiscovery Process Management 6.0.3 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: 126683.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1356 affects IBM Atlas eDiscovery Process Management version 6.0.3, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the system to remote SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of user input and lacks proper sanitization mechanisms, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors. The flaw specifically impacts the database interaction layer where user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into SQL queries without adequate validation or escaping. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information and compromising the integrity of the entire eDiscovery process management environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic SQL injection flaw that aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The attack vector requires a remote connection to the vulnerable system and involves crafting malicious SQL statements that exploit the lack of input validation in the application's database layer. When the application processes user input containing malicious SQL syntax, the database executes these commands with the privileges of the application's database user, potentially allowing full database access. This vulnerability can be exploited to extract confidential data, modify database records, or even delete critical information from the back-end database system. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as the attacker could potentially escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the underlying infrastructure.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on IBM Atlas eDiscovery Process Management for sensitive legal and compliance processes. The ability to view, add, modify, or delete database information creates significant risks for data integrity and confidentiality, particularly in regulated environments where eDiscovery processes handle sensitive information. Organizations may face regulatory violations, legal consequences, and reputational damage if database compromise occurs. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the eDiscovery management system, potentially disrupting legal proceedings and compliance workflows. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access or insider knowledge of the system's internal workings. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by threat actors with minimal reconnaissance required.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for IBM Atlas eDiscovery Process Management. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to the vulnerable system, while implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts. Input validation and parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application code to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional weaknesses in the system architecture. The implementation of principle of least privilege for database accounts and regular monitoring of database access logs can help detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can identify suspicious SQL patterns and alert security teams to potential exploitation attempts, ensuring comprehensive protection against this and similar vulnerabilities in the future.