CVE-2022-22360 in Partner Engagement Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 07/19/2022
IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager 6.1.2, 6.2, and Cloud/SasS 22.2 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to conduct an LDAP injection. By using a specially crafted request, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability and could result in in granting permission to unauthorized resources. IBM X-Force ID: 220782.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-22360 affects IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager versions 6.1.2, 6.2, and the Cloud/SaaS 22.2 releases, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to execute LDAP injection attacks. This vulnerability resides within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the platform, specifically targeting the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol implementation that handles user authentication and access control. The flaw allows an attacker with valid credentials to manipulate LDAP queries through crafted requests, potentially compromising the integrity of the directory service and undermining the security controls that protect partner engagement resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users submit specially crafted input that gets directly incorporated into LDAP search filters without proper sanitization or parameterization. This injection allows attackers to manipulate the underlying directory queries to bypass authentication checks, escalate privileges, or access unauthorized resources within the partner engagement environment. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within the LDAP query construction process, creating a pathway for malicious manipulation of directory service operations. According to CWE classification, this represents a variant of CWE-91, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in LDAP queries, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise directory service environments where authentication and authorization depend on LDAP integration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model of the IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to confidential partner data, manipulate business relationships, or perform unauthorized transactions within the platform. The implications are particularly severe in partner engagement scenarios where sensitive business information, contractual details, and operational data are managed through the system. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and authorization functionality, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users or gain elevated privileges within the partner engagement environment, thereby undermining the security posture of organizations relying on this platform for business partner interactions.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager should immediately implement mitigations including input validation controls, parameterized LDAP queries, and comprehensive access control reviews. The recommended approach involves applying the vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available, while also implementing additional security controls such as monitoring for unusual authentication patterns and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify any potential exploitation attempts, while also reviewing existing access controls and privilege assignments to minimize the blast radius of potential attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers Valid Accounts and T1098 which addresses Account Manipulation, emphasizing the need for robust identity and access management controls. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security including multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring solutions to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts.