CVE-2023-23472 in InfoSphere Information Server
Summary
by MITRE • 12/11/2024
IBM InfoSphere DataStage Flow Designer (InfoSphere Information Server 11.7) could allow an authenticated user to obtain sensitive information that could aid in further attacks against the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
IBM InfoSphere DataStage Flow Designer version 11.7 contains a vulnerability that allows authenticated users to access sensitive information through improper access control mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions when accessing certain system resources, potentially enabling privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks. The flaw exists within the authentication and authorization framework of the InfoSphere Information Server platform, specifically affecting the Flow Designer component that manages data integration workflows. Security researchers identified that authenticated users could exploit this weakness to retrieve configuration details, system metadata, or other sensitive data that should only be accessible to administrators or users with specific privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the flow designer's handling of API requests and internal resource access patterns. When authenticated users make requests to certain endpoints within the Flow Designer interface, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has adequate permissions to access the requested information. This misconfiguration creates an information exposure scenario where sensitive data such as system configurations, user credentials, or workflow details may be accessible through crafted requests. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates within the context of an authenticated session, meaning that an attacker who has already gained access to legitimate user credentials could leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges or gather intelligence for further attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked data could provide attackers with valuable insights for planning more sophisticated attacks against the InfoSphere Information Server infrastructure. The sensitive information that can be accessed includes system metadata, configuration parameters, and potentially user account details that could be used for lateral movement within the network or for credential harvesting attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation within enterprise data integration platforms. Organizations using InfoSphere DataStage Flow Designer may face increased risk of targeted attacks, as the disclosed information could reveal system architecture details, user access patterns, or internal data structures that would otherwise remain hidden.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from IBM, reviewing and tightening access controls within the InfoSphere Information Server environment, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of user permissions and access logs to identify any potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper privilege separation and access control validation in enterprise data integration platforms. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual API access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication for administrative access to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive system information. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for regular security assessments of enterprise data integration tools and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations to prevent information disclosure attacks that could compromise entire data processing infrastructures.