CVE-2019-4752 in Emptoris Spend Analysis
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Emptoris Spend Analysis and IBM Emptoris Strategic Supply Management Platform 10.1.0.x, 10.1.1.x, and 10.1.3.x 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: 173348.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2024
IBM Emptoris Spend Analysis and IBM Emptoris Strategic Supply Management Platform versions 10.1.0.x, 10.1.1.x, and 10.1.3.x contain a critical SQL injection vulnerability that exposes sensitive database systems to remote exploitation. This vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user input within database queries, allowing malicious actors to manipulate backend database operations through crafted SQL statements. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute unauthorized database commands, potentially gaining full access to sensitive organizational data including financial records, supplier information, and procurement data. The remote nature of this vulnerability means attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where these platforms are deployed. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted requests through the application's web interface or APIs that bypass normal input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploit for execution. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can modify or delete critical procurement information, potentially disrupting supply chain operations and financial reporting processes. The affected platforms store highly sensitive business data including vendor contracts, spending patterns, and strategic procurement decisions that could be leveraged for competitive advantage or financial fraud.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the application's database interaction layers. When user-supplied data is directly concatenated into SQL query strings without proper parameterization or escaping, the application becomes susceptible to malicious input that alters the intended query execution flow. This allows attackers to inject additional SQL commands that can be executed with the privileges of the database user account associated with the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because these platforms are designed for enterprise use cases where they handle large volumes of sensitive financial and operational data. The attack surface includes various input points such as search functions, filter parameters, and data entry forms that may not properly validate or escape user inputs before processing. IBM's affected versions indicate a widespread issue across multiple release streams, suggesting the vulnerability was present in the core application architecture rather than being isolated to specific components. The database access permissions for these applications often include elevated privileges necessary for business operations, which means successful exploitation could lead to comprehensive database compromise. This type of vulnerability is classified as a persistent security weakness that requires architectural changes to properly address rather than simple code patches.
Organizations utilizing these vulnerable platforms face significant operational and financial risks from exploitation attempts. The potential for data breach and information disclosure can result in regulatory compliance violations, particularly under data protection frameworks such as gdpr, hipaa, and pci dss standards. Supply chain disruption represents another major concern as attackers could modify supplier information or procurement data, potentially leading to incorrect purchasing decisions or vendor relationship issues. Financial impact extends beyond immediate data theft to include potential fraud, regulatory fines, and business disruption costs. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that organizations may not immediately detect compromise attempts, as malicious activities can occur without obvious indicators of intrusion. Recovery from such attacks typically involves extensive forensic analysis, database restoration, and security infrastructure review. The interconnected nature of spend analysis and supply management systems means that exploitation could affect multiple business processes simultaneously, including procurement, financial reporting, and vendor management functions. Organizations should consider the broader implications of this vulnerability on their overall security posture, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to other systems through lateral movement opportunities. The business continuity implications are significant since these platforms often serve as critical infrastructure for enterprise procurement operations, making the potential for sustained service disruption a serious concern.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement immediate patching procedures for all affected versions, following IBM's security advisories and applying the vendor-provided fixes as soon as possible. Input validation and parameterization should be strengthened across all database interaction points, ensuring that all user inputs are properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries. The principle of least privilege should be enforced for database accounts used by the application, limiting their capabilities to only those required for normal operations. Network segmentation and monitoring controls should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to these systems. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities in the application stack. Database activity monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened, including implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative functions and regular review of user access permissions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against SQL injection attacks targeting the application layer. Incident response procedures should be updated to include specific handling of database compromise scenarios, ensuring rapid detection and containment of exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to verify that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new issues. Regular security awareness training for administrators and developers can help prevent similar issues in future application development cycles.