CVE-2018-1563 in Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition (IBM Sterling File Gateway 2.2.0 through 2.2.6) is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 142967.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1563 affects IBM Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition, specifically versions 2.2.0 through 2.2.6 of IBM Sterling File Gateway. This cross-site scripting vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the web-based user interface. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's web interface, fundamentally compromising the system's security posture. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in enterprise integration platforms where sensitive business data flows through the system, as they provide attackers with opportunities to manipulate user interactions and potentially escalate their privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web application's user interface components. When users interact with the system through the web UI, improperly sanitized user-supplied data can be rendered back to the browser without proper sanitization measures. This creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of authenticated sessions. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in web applications where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The flaw particularly affects the web-based management interfaces that administrators and users rely upon for system operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution capabilities, as it provides attackers with the means to hijack authenticated sessions and potentially access sensitive credentials. When an attacker successfully injects JavaScript code, they can manipulate the web interface to capture user credentials, session tokens, or other sensitive information that flows through the trusted session. This capability allows for persistent access to the system, enabling attackers to perform unauthorized operations including data exfiltration, system modification, or privilege escalation. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where the integration platform handles critical business transactions and sensitive data exchanges, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit business-to-business integration systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security assessments of their web applications. The recommended approach involves deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads, implementing proper content security policies to restrict script execution, and conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous script injection attempts and establish incident response procedures for rapid remediation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing with social engineering, as attackers typically leverage such flaws to establish persistent access and conduct further reconnaissance within the network. Organizations should also ensure that their patch management processes include regular updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in enterprise integration platforms.