CVE-2018-1774 in API Connect
Summary
by MITRE
IBM API Connect 5.0.0.0, 5.0.8.4, 2018.1 and2018.3.6 is vulnerable to CSV injection via the developer portal and analytics that could contain malicious commands that would be executed once opened by an administrator. IBM X-Force ID: 148692.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2023
IBM API Connect versions 5.0.0.0, 5.0.8.4, 2018.1, and 2018.3.6 contain a critical csv injection vulnerability that poses significant security risks to organizations utilizing these platforms. This vulnerability exists within the developer portal and analytics components where user-supplied data can be exported to csv format without proper sanitization. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious input that, when processed and exported to csv files, can contain executable commands that will be triggered upon opening by administrators. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-1236 which specifically addresses the improper handling of CSV injection vectors in applications that generate spreadsheet files. The attack vector leverages the inherent behavior of spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets that interpret certain characters in csv files as formula commands, creating a path for malicious code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation as it creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise administrator systems and potentially lead to broader system infiltration. When administrators open malicious csv files generated through this vulnerability, their systems become vulnerable to command execution attacks that could result in complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it exploits the trust relationship between administrators and the data they routinely handle, making it difficult to detect and prevent. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter execution, and T1078 which addresses valid accounts and legitimate credentials usage. The attack typically begins with an attacker submitting malicious data through the developer portal or analytics interface, which gets stored and later exported to csv format, creating a time-delayed attack mechanism that can remain dormant until the csv file is opened by an unsuspecting administrator.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling csv export functionality where possible, implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied data, and establishing network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromises. The recommended approach involves configuring the system to escape or quote special characters in csv exports, particularly those that could be interpreted as formulas such as equals signs, plus signs, minus signs, and at symbols. Additionally, administrators should be trained to avoid opening csv files from untrusted sources and should implement strict file access controls and audit logging for csv file operations. IBM has released patches and updates to address this vulnerability, and organizations should ensure they are running the latest supported versions of IBM API Connect. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched systems to ensure that the csv injection vulnerability has been properly addressed while maintaining all necessary functionality. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in related systems and ensure comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.