CVE-2023-50959 in Cloud Pak for Business Automation
Summary
by MITRE • 03/31/2024
IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation 18.0.0, 18.0.1, 18.0.2,19.0.1, 19.0.2, 19.0.3,20.0.1, 20.0.2, 20.0.3, 21.0.1, 21.0.2, 21.0.3, 22.0.1,2 2.0.2, 23.0.1, and 23.0.2 may allow end users to query more documents than expected from a connected Enterprise Content Management system when configured to use a system account. IBM X-Force ID: 275938.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2024
This vulnerability exists within IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation versions spanning from 18.0.0 through 23.0.2, where improper access control mechanisms allow authenticated users to bypass document retrieval limitations when the system is configured to utilize a system account for Enterprise Content Management integration. The flaw stems from insufficient authorization checks during document query operations, enabling users to access documents beyond their intended scope. This represents a classic access control vulnerability that aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in system components. The vulnerability specifically manifests when system accounts are employed for ECM connectivity, creating a privilege escalation path where regular users can query documents they should not have access to based on their role or permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the system's failure to properly validate user credentials against document access controls during query processing. When a system account is configured for ECM integration, the application layer does not adequately enforce the original user's authorization context during document retrieval operations. This creates a scenario where the system account's elevated privileges are leveraged to bypass standard access controls, allowing users to retrieve documents from repositories they would normally be restricted from accessing. The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables potential data exfiltration and unauthorized access to sensitive business documents, particularly in regulated environments where document access is strictly controlled.
The security implications of this vulnerability are significant for organizations utilizing IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation in enterprise environments where sensitive data is managed through integrated ECM systems. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gather confidential information that should remain restricted to authorized personnel, potentially leading to competitive intelligence theft, regulatory compliance violations, or data breach incidents. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple major releases indicates a fundamental flaw in the access control implementation that requires immediate attention. Organizations using this platform may face compliance challenges with standards such as iso 27001, soc 2, and gdpr, as unauthorized document access constitutes a violation of data protection requirements.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of access control patches provided by IBM, followed by comprehensive review of all system account configurations within the Cloud Pak environment. Organizations should enforce strict separation of privileges between system accounts and user accounts, ensuring that system accounts are configured with minimal required permissions for ECM integration. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized document query patterns, while regular access control audits should verify that user permissions align with organizational data governance policies. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated access control validation mechanisms and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing unauthorized document access scenarios. The remediation process must include thorough testing of access control mechanisms to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in legitimate business functionality while maintaining the security posture required for enterprise document management systems.