CVE-2019-4597 in Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition 5.2.0.0 through 5.2.6.5 is vulnerable to SQL injection. A remote attacker could send specially-crafted SQL statements, which could allow the attacker to view, add, modify or delete information in the back-end database. IBM X-Force ID: 167880.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-4597 affects IBM Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition versions 5.2.0.0 through 5.2.6.5, representing a critical SQL injection flaw that exposes the underlying database infrastructure to unauthorized access. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of user input in database queries, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database system. The affected product is part of IBM's enterprise integration suite designed for business-to-business transactions, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise sensitive data exchanges and transactional information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's database interaction layer. When the system processes user-supplied data through database queries, it fails to properly escape or parameterize input values, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL payloads. This flaw specifically manifests when the application accepts user input through web interfaces or API endpoints that subsequently construct database queries without adequate security measures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a persistent flaw in applications that fail to properly handle user input in database contexts. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized database operations including data enumeration, modification, or complete database compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables comprehensive database manipulation capabilities that could severely compromise business continuity and regulatory compliance. An attacker with successful exploitation could access sensitive business transaction data, customer information, and integration configurations that are typically protected within the B2B environment. The remote nature of this attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access to the network, significantly expanding the potential attack surface. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of business data exchanges, potentially leading to financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage. The attack could be classified under MITRE ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1046 for network service discovery, as attackers would likely first enumerate database services before executing injection payloads.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Sterling B2B Integrator should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM security patches and updates. The vulnerability requires comprehensive input validation implementation across all database interaction points, including proper parameterization of queries and input sanitization techniques. Network segmentation and database access controls should be reinforced to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify anomalous query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure complete remediation of similar vulnerabilities within the broader application ecosystem. The affected versions should be upgraded to IBM Sterling B2B Integrator 5.2.7.0 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to address this SQL injection vulnerability.