CVE-2022-35640 in Sterling Partner Engagement Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 07/17/2024
IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager 6.2.2 could allow a local attacker to obtain sensitive information when a detailed technical error message is returned. IBM X-Force ID: 230933.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-35640 affects IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager version 6.2.2, representing a significant security weakness that could be exploited by local attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. This issue stems from the application's improper handling of error conditions, specifically when detailed technical error messages are generated and returned to users. The flaw creates an information disclosure risk that can expose system internals and potentially reveal configuration details that would aid in further exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's error handling mechanisms where insufficient sanitization occurs during the generation of error responses. When system errors occur, the software returns detailed technical information including stack traces, internal system paths, and potentially sensitive operational data that should remain confidential. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as it provides attackers with valuable intelligence about the underlying system architecture and operational parameters.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates multiple attack vectors that can be leveraged by adversaries with local system access. The sensitive information disclosed through detailed error messages can include database connection strings, file paths, user credentials, and system configuration details that would normally be protected from unauthorized access. Such information disclosure can significantly aid in subsequent exploitation phases, including privilege escalation, lateral movement, and targeted attacks against other system components. The vulnerability's local nature means that attackers must first gain access to the system, but once achieved, they can systematically gather intelligence to plan more sophisticated attacks.
The security implications extend beyond immediate information disclosure to encompass broader system integrity concerns. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and CWE-200, which covers "Information Exposure." The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as part of the reconnaissance phase where adversaries gather system information through error message analysis. The IBM X-Force ID 230933 further emphasizes the commercial impact and the need for immediate remediation. Organizations should implement comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect exploitation attempts, while also applying the vendor-provided patches to address the root cause.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patch deployment from IBM, which would address the error handling implementation to prevent detailed technical messages from being returned to users. Additionally, system administrators should review and modify application configuration to disable verbose error reporting in production environments. Implementing proper input validation and error handling practices, along with regular security assessments, can prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other system components. Network segmentation and access controls should also be reviewed to minimize the potential impact of local privilege escalation attacks that might leverage this information disclosure vulnerability.