CVE-2026-17407 in API Connect
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2026
IBM API Connect 10.0.8.0 through 10.0.8.12 and 12.1.0.0 through 12.1.1.2 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary SQL commands due to SQL injection. Values received during sign-in are not properly neutralized before being used in a database query, which could allow SQL commands to run.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2026
The vulnerability identified within IBM API Connect versions 10.0.8.0 through 10.0.8.12 and 12.1.0.0 through 12.1.1.2 represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper input validation during the authentication process. This issue is classified as SQL injection, specifically categorized under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command according to industry standards for software weakness classification. The core technical failure lies in the application's handling of user-supplied credentials received during the sign-in sequence. Instead of properly sanitizing or parameterizing these inputs before incorporating them into database queries, the system directly embeds raw values from the authentication request into Structured Query Language statements. This lack of neutralization allows a remote authenticated attacker to inject malicious SQL syntax that is subsequently executed by the underlying database management system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to data integrity and confidentiality within environments utilizing IBM API Connect as their gateway or management platform. Although the attack vector requires prior authentication, meaning the adversary must already possess valid credentials, the ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands can lead to severe consequences such as unauthorized access to sensitive backend data, modification of critical configuration settings, or even complete compromise of the underlying database infrastructure. In many enterprise architectures, API gateways serve as central points for managing traffic and enforcing policies; compromising this component through a stored or executed query injection could provide an attacker with a foothold deeper into the network than initially anticipated by security controls designed to protect only the application layer.
The exploitation mechanism typically involves manipulating login fields such as usernames or passwords to include SQL metacharacters, logical operators, and comment sequences that alter the intended logic of the database query. For instance, an attacker might append a conditional statement like OR 1=1 to bypass authentication checks entirely or extract data from other tables using UNION SELECT statements if the application returns error messages or results directly back to the user interface. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it involves leveraging vulnerabilities in software services exposed to users for initial access and subsequent privilege escalation within the database context. The presence of this flaw indicates a deficiency in secure coding practices regarding input validation and query construction methodologies during development or deployment phases.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term defensive improvements. IBM has released patches addressing these specific version ranges, and administrators are strongly advised to apply the latest updates immediately to close the exposure window. Beyond patching, organizations should implement Web Application Firewalls configured with rulesets capable of detecting and blocking common SQL injection patterns in authentication endpoints. Additionally, adopting parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database interactions is essential to ensure that user input is treated strictly as data rather than executable code. Regular security assessments including static application security testing during development cycles and dynamic analysis against deployed instances will help identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors seeking to compromise API infrastructure integrity.