CVE-2022-22331 in SterlingPartner Engagement Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2022
IBM SterlingPartner Engagement Manager 6.2.0 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to obtain sensitive information or modify user details caused by an insecure direct object vulnerability (IDOR). IBM X-Force ID: 219130.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-22331 affects IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager version 6.2.0, representing a critical insecure direct object reference flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to access and manipulate sensitive user data. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's object handling processes, allowing attackers to bypass normal authorization checks by directly referencing objects through predictable identifiers or manipulated parameters. The insecure direct object reference vulnerability falls under CWE-639, which specifically addresses situations where applications fail to properly validate access to objects referenced by user-supplied input, creating pathways for unauthorized data access and modification.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker to exploit the application's object reference mechanisms by manipulating request parameters to access resources belonging to other users or to modify user details without proper authorization. This occurs when the application uses predictable identifiers or direct references to objects without implementing proper access control checks before processing the requested operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts user management functionality within the Sterling Partner Engagement Manager, where user records, permissions, and sensitive personal information could potentially be accessed or altered through crafted requests that leverage the IDOR weakness.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for organizations utilizing IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager, as it could enable data breaches involving sensitive user information, unauthorized account modifications, and potential privilege escalation within the system. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential data integrity compromise, as attackers could modify user details, permissions, or access credentials of other users within the system. This weakness particularly affects environments where multiple users interact with the platform and where sensitive business partner information is stored, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to exploit weak access controls in enterprise integration platforms.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including robust input validation mechanisms, implementation of proper access control checks for all object references, and enforcement of the principle of least privilege for user permissions. The recommended approach involves implementing proper object-level access control checks that validate user authorization before processing any object references, ensuring that all requests include proper authentication tokens and that object identifiers are not predictable or directly manipulable by unauthorized users. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security testing including penetration testing and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as it allows attackers to leverage legitimate user credentials to access unauthorized resources. The remediation process should also include monitoring and logging of object access patterns to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all user interactions with the system are properly authenticated and authorized through robust session management mechanisms.