Security Bulletin
Summary
Software uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the software does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location outside the restricted directory. Under an application server, if the application server configuration does not restrict access to files outside certain restricted directories, the attacker may fetch sensitive files, and if the file is written with contents controlled by user input, the attacker may change configuration files (like web.xml among others), web contents ('web defacement'), or libraries (for more insidious code injection attacks). Access to system files (the customary /etc/password in Unix/Linux systems) could also allowed with the app server account permissions. It is recommended, besides ensuring that files depending on user-controlled input do not exit the intended directories, that the OS account does have the minimal permissions, to reduce the impact of a successful path traversal attack.
Vulnerability Details
DESCRIPTION: IBM Engineering Lifecycle Optimization - Publishing could allow a remote attacker to traverse directories on the system. An attacker could send a specially crafted URL request containing "dot dot" sequences (/../) to view arbitrary files on the system.
CWE: CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
CVSS Source: IBM X-Force
CVSS Base score: 6.5
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N)
Affected Products and Versions
| Affected Product(s) | Version(s) |
| PUB | 7.0.3 |
| PUB | 7.0.2 |
Remediation/Fixes
| Product Name | Version | How to remediate? |
| PUB | 7.0.3 | The vulnerability can be remediated by applying the following PUB 7.0.3 iFix010 or later iFixes. |
| PUB | 7.0.2 | The vulnerability can be remediated by applying the following PUB 7.0.2 iFix032 or later iFixes. |
Workarounds and Mitigations
None
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References
Acknowledgement
Change History
03 Jan 2025: Initial Publication
*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin.
Disclaimer
According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES ""AS IS"" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY. In addition to other efforts to address potential vulnerabilities, IBM periodically updates the record of components contained in our product offerings. As part of that effort, if IBM identifies previously unidentified packages in a product/service inventory, we address relevant vulnerabilities regardless of CVE date. Inclusion of an older CVEID does not demonstrate that the referenced product has been used by IBM since that date, nor that IBM was aware of a vulnerability as of that date. We are making clients aware of relevant vulnerabilities as we become aware of them. "Affected Products and Versions" referenced in IBM Security Bulletins are intended to be only products and versions that are supported by IBM and have not passed their end-of-support or warranty date. Thus, failure to reference unsupported or extended-support products and versions in this Security Bulletin does not constitute a determination by IBM that they are unaffected by the vulnerability. Reference to one or more unsupported versions in this Security Bulletin shall not create an obligation for IBM to provide fixes for any unsupported or extended-support products or versions.
Document Location
Worldwide
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Document Information
Modified date:
14 April 2025
UID
ibm17180201