CVE-2017-1699 in MQ Managed File Transfer Agent
Summary
by MITRE
IBM MQ Managed File Transfer Agent 8.0 and 9.0 sets insecure permissions on certain files it creates. A local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to modify or delete data contained in the files with an unknown impact. IBM X-Force ID: 134391.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1699 affects IBM MQ Managed File Transfer Agent versions 8.0 and 9.0, representing a critical security flaw in the file permission handling mechanisms of this enterprise file transfer solution. This issue stems from the agent's improper configuration of file system permissions during the creation of certain files, creating exploitable conditions that could be leveraged by local attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability manifests through the creation of files with overly permissive access controls that allow unauthorized modification or deletion operations, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized access, or complete data loss within the managed file transfer environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the agent's failure to properly enforce security boundaries when generating temporary or persistent files during file transfer operations. This misconfiguration typically results in files being created with world-readable or world-writable permissions, or permissions that exceed the minimum required for normal operation. The flaw represents a direct violation of security best practices and aligns with CWE-732, which addresses improper permission assignment for critical resources. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate files that should remain protected, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of transferred data while undermining the security posture of the entire file transfer infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-1699 extends beyond simple data modification capabilities, as it creates potential for broader system compromise within environments where IBM MQ Managed File Transfer Agent operates. Local attackers with minimal privileges can exploit this weakness to access sensitive information, modify transfer configurations, or disrupt file transfer operations that may be critical to business processes. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in regulated environments where data integrity and audit trails are mandatory, as unauthorized modifications could lead to compliance violations and regulatory penalties. Organizations relying on this agent for mission-critical file transfers face significant risk of data compromise, service disruption, and potential financial losses due to the exploitation of these insecure file permissions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate implementation of proper file permission controls and comprehensive system hardening measures. Organizations should ensure that all files created by the IBM MQ Managed File Transfer Agent are configured with appropriate access controls that follow the principle of least privilege, restricting access to authorized users and processes only. The recommended approach includes implementing regular permission audits, configuring file system access controls through proper security policies, and applying the latest security patches provided by IBM as part of their vulnerability response. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized file access attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this class of vulnerability. The remediation process should align with industry standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and should incorporate defensive techniques from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics that attackers might employ when exploiting insecure file permissions.