CVE-2023-28522 in API Connect
Summary
by MITRE • 05/12/2023
IBM API Connect V10 could allow an authenticated user to perform actions that they should not have access to. IBM X-Force ID: 250585.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2023
IBM API Connect version 10 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated users to perform unauthorized actions within the system. This vulnerability stems from insufficient access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions before executing sensitive operations. The flaw exists in the authorization framework where proper role-based access controls are not consistently enforced across all system functions. An attacker with valid credentials can exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges and access resources or perform operations that should be restricted to administrators or users with higher clearance levels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the access control validation process within the API Connect management interface. When authenticated users attempt to perform administrative or sensitive operations, the system does not adequately verify whether the user possesses the necessary permissions. This weakness aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct API calls or web interface interactions where the system fails to properly enforce access control policies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it undermines the fundamental security model of the IBM API Connect platform. An authenticated user who should only have read-only access to certain APIs or configuration settings could potentially escalate their privileges to full administrative control. This could result in unauthorized data manipulation, configuration changes, service disruption, or even complete system compromise depending on the scope of accessible resources. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on API Connect for managing their API ecosystems, potentially exposing sensitive data and critical infrastructure to unauthorized access.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by IBM, reviewing and strengthening access control policies, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of their API Connect deployments. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. The mitigation strategy should align with defense-in-depth principles and include regular access control reviews and privilege audits. Security teams should also consider implementing additional authentication layers and monitoring user activities for suspicious behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining robust access control mechanisms in enterprise API management platforms and highlights the need for continuous security validation of authentication and authorization systems.