CVE-2017-1785 in API Connect
Summary
by MITRE
IBM API Connect 5.0.7 and 5.0.8 could allow an authenticated remote user to modify query parameters to obtain sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 136859.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1785 affects IBM API Connect versions 5.0.7 and 5.0.8, representing a significant security flaw that undermines the integrity of access controls within the platform. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied query parameters, creating an avenue for authenticated attackers to manipulate API requests and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability exists within the application's parameter handling logic where user inputs are not adequately filtered or validated before being processed, allowing malicious actors to construct modified requests that bypass normal access restrictions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves an authenticated user leveraging their legitimate access credentials to modify query parameters in API calls, thereby circumventing the intended authorization controls. This type of flaw falls under the category of improper input validation, which aligns with CWE-20, representing one of the most common software security weaknesses. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specially formatted API requests that manipulate the query string parameters to access resources or data that should be restricted to authorized users only. The vulnerability specifically targets the API gateway's parameter processing capabilities, where the system fails to properly validate the legitimacy of incoming parameter values before executing the corresponding API operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a critical compromise of the system's access control mechanisms. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, or system configuration details that should remain protected. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as it allows authenticated users to escalate their privileges and access resources beyond their intended scope. The vulnerability also poses significant risk to the overall security posture of organizations relying on IBM API Connect, as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized data access operations that could lead to data breaches or compliance violations.
Organizations utilizing IBM API Connect versions 5.0.7 and 5.0.8 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates as soon as they become available. Additionally, implementing robust input validation mechanisms and parameter sanitization within the API gateway configuration can help prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring of API traffic should be enhanced to detect anomalous parameter usage patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation. The remediation approach should align with industry best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing the importance of proper input validation and access control enforcement. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their API implementations to identify similar vulnerabilities that might exist in other components of their API ecosystem, as this type of flaw often indicates broader architectural weaknesses in API security design.