CVE-2017-1766 in Business Process Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Due to incorrect authorization in IBM Business Process Manager 8.6 an attacker can claim and work on ad hoc tasks he is not assigned to. IBM X-Force ID: 136151.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1766 represents a critical authorization flaw within IBM Business Process Manager version 8.6 that undermines the system's access control mechanisms. This weakness allows unauthorized users to manipulate workflow processes by claiming and executing ad hoc tasks that should remain assigned to legitimate participants. The flaw specifically affects the task assignment and delegation functionality within the business process management framework, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized system access.
This authorization bypass vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions during task claiming operations. When users attempt to claim ad hoc tasks within the business process manager, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary authorization rights to execute that specific task. The technical implementation appears to rely on insufficient session validation or incomplete access control checks that do not adequately distinguish between authorized and unauthorized users attempting to access workflow elements. This flaw falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-285, specifically addressing authorization failures that permit unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to significant business process manipulation and potential data integrity compromises. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can disrupt workflow processes by claiming tasks intended for specific individuals, potentially causing delays in business operations or enabling malicious actors to interfere with critical business processes. The ability to work on assigned tasks without proper authorization creates opportunities for process tampering, data modification, or even complete workflow disruption. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of business process management systems, potentially affecting sensitive business operations and compliance requirements.
Organizations utilizing IBM Business Process Manager 8.6 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official IBM security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and enhanced monitoring of task claiming activities can help detect unauthorized access attempts. Access control policies should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure proper task assignment validation. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, where attackers leverage authorization flaws to gain unauthorized access to system resources. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and session management controls can help prevent similar authorization bypass scenarios. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar access control weaknesses in business process management systems.