CVE-2023-45186 in Sterling B2B Integrator
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2024
IBM Sterling B2B Integrator 6.0.0.0 through 6.0.3.9, 6.1.0.0 through 6.1.2.3, and 6.2.0.0 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows a privileged user to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 268691.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45186 affects IBM Sterling B2B Integrator versions ranging from 6.0.0.0 through 6.0.3.9, 6.1.0.0 through 6.1.2.3, and 6.2.0.0, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that exploits the web-based user interface of this enterprise integration platform. This vulnerability resides within the application's input validation mechanisms, specifically in how the system handles user-supplied data within the web UI components. The flaw allows a malicious actor with privileged access to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's interface, effectively compromising the integrity of the user session and potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets a privileged user account, meaning that an attacker who can gain administrative or elevated privileges within the system can leverage this weakness to execute malicious scripts that could capture session credentials or manipulate application behavior.
The technical exploitation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability follows the standard pattern where an attacker crafts malicious input that gets reflected or stored within the application's web interface. In the context of IBM Sterling B2B Integrator, this typically occurs when user-provided data is not properly sanitized or encoded before being rendered back to the browser. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts. The attack vector specifically aligns with the ATT&CK framework under T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where an attacker might use this vulnerability to create malicious web content that could be executed within a victim's browser session. The impact extends beyond simple script execution, as the injected JavaScript can potentially access session cookies, local storage, and other browser-based data that might contain authentication tokens or sensitive business information.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on IBM Sterling B2B Integrator for critical business-to-business transactions and integration processes. A successful exploitation could lead to complete session hijacking, where an attacker gains unauthorized access to privileged user accounts and can perform actions such as viewing, modifying, or deleting sensitive business data. The credential disclosure aspect of this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it could expose not only the application's authentication tokens but also potentially compromise downstream systems that rely on the integration platform for secure data exchange. Organizations using this software in production environments face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to their business integration workflows, which could disrupt critical supply chain operations and expose confidential business information. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version ranges indicates a persistent flaw in the application's security architecture that requires immediate attention and remediation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by IBM to address this vulnerability, as well as implementing additional security controls such as input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Network segmentation and monitoring of web application traffic can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader integration platform ecosystem. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper input sanitization across all user-facing interfaces will help reduce the attack surface and prevent similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security awareness training for administrators and developers to understand the risks associated with privileged account access and the importance of maintaining secure coding practices in web applications.