CVE-2026-14522 in App Connect Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
IBM App Connect Enterprise 13.0.1.0 through 13.0.7.2, and 12.0.1.0 through 12.0.12.27 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands due to improper neutralization of CRLF characters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
This vulnerability exists within IBM App Connect Enterprise versions 13.0.1.0 through 13.0.7.2 and 12.0.1.0 through 12.0.12.27, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote command execution through improper handling of CRLF (Carriage Return Line Feed) characters. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly neutralize CRLF sequences in user-supplied data, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious commands into the system's processing pipeline.
The technical flaw manifests when the application processes user input containing CRLF characters without proper sanitization, allowing these control characters to be interpreted as command separators or injection points. This improper neutralization creates a path for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior by injecting additional commands that bypass normal execution boundaries. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of network protocols and data processing where CRLF sequences are commonly used to terminate lines in various communication formats including HTTP headers, SMTP protocols, and other text-based communication channels.
Attackers can exploit this weakness remotely without requiring authentication credentials, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it provides unrestricted access to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The impact extends beyond simple command injection to potentially allow full system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network environments where IBM App Connect Enterprise is deployed. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-117, which specifically addresses improper output neutralization for logs, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, enabling adversaries to execute malicious code through legitimate system processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive data, system compromise, and disruption of business operations. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of data breaches and regulatory compliance violations, particularly in environments where the application handles confidential information or operates under strict security requirements. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target systems from outside the network perimeter, potentially bypassing traditional network security controls. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of IBM App Connect Enterprise, implementing network segmentation, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, input validation controls should be strengthened to prevent CRLF character injection, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in preventing injection attacks and highlights how seemingly minor flaws in text processing can lead to catastrophic security consequences. The remediation strategy must include not only the immediate patching of affected systems but also comprehensive testing to ensure that similar issues do not exist in related components or custom integrations that may be vulnerable to the same class of attack vectors.