CVE-2019-4680 in Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition 5.2.0.0 through 6.0.2.2 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: 171733.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2020
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator Standard Edition versions 5.2.0.0 through 6.0.2.2 contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability that exposes the backend database to unauthorized access. This vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where insufficient input validation allows attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data that is directly incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely by crafting specially designed SQL statements that bypass authentication and authorization controls, potentially gaining complete administrative access to the underlying database system. The vulnerability represents a significant threat to data integrity and confidentiality as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary database operations including data retrieval, modification, insertion, and deletion across all database tables accessible through the affected application interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential business disruption. Attackers leveraging this SQL injection flaw could extract sensitive information such as customer data, transaction records, and system configuration details that would normally be protected by database access controls. The vulnerability also allows for data manipulation and deletion which could result in significant financial losses and regulatory compliance violations. Organizations using affected versions of IBM Sterling B2B Integrator face potential exposure to data breaches that could affect thousands of business partners and customers depending on the scope of the integrated business processes. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or system, making the attack surface significantly broader than traditional network-based threats.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates as soon as they become available through IBM's security advisory channels. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to the affected application to only authorized administrative personnel and systems. Database access controls must be reviewed and strengthened with proper role-based access controls that limit database user permissions to the minimum required for operational functionality. Input validation should be enhanced at all application entry points to prevent malicious SQL content from being processed, while implementing proper parameterized queries and prepared statements to eliminate the possibility of SQL injection attacks. Organizations should also deploy database activity monitoring tools and intrusion detection systems to identify and alert on suspicious database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005 for application layer protocol and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, demonstrating how attackers can leverage application vulnerabilities to gain persistent access to enterprise databases. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications that may be similarly exposed to SQL injection attacks through inadequate input validation mechanisms.