CVE-2024-45075 in webMethods Integration
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2024
IBM webMethods Integration 10.15 could allow an authenticated user to create scheduler tasks that would allow them to escalate their privileges to administrator due to missing authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2024
IBM webMethods Integration version 10.15 contains a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that affects authenticated users within the system. This vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication controls within the scheduler task creation functionality, allowing malicious actors with standard user privileges to manipulate system components and gain administrative access. The flaw exists in the application's authorization mechanisms where the system fails to properly validate user permissions when creating scheduled tasks, creating an avenue for unauthorized privilege elevation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the scheduler component's task creation API endpoints which do not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to create tasks with elevated permissions. This represents a classic authorization bypass issue that aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific scheduler tasks that leverage system internals to escalate their privileges, effectively circumventing the normal access control mechanisms that should prevent standard users from performing administrative operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it transforms any authenticated user account into a potential vector for complete system compromise. Once exploited, the attacker can execute arbitrary code with administrative privileges, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system modification, or further lateral movement within the network. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on webMethods Integration for business process automation, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of role-based access control. The attack surface expands significantly when considering that many integration platforms serve as central hubs for enterprise data flows, making this privilege escalation a critical concern for cybersecurity teams.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by IBM, reviewing and strengthening access controls for scheduler components, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to critical integration points. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of principle of least privilege enforcement and proper authorization validation throughout application components. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual scheduler task creation patterns and establish incident response procedures to detect and respond to potential privilege escalation attempts. This issue aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through scheduled tasks and abuse of system privileges, making it a significant concern for organizations following the MITRE ATT&CK framework for threat analysis and defense planning.