Description

IBM App Connect Enterprise 13.0.1.0 through 13.0.8.0, and 12.0.1.0 through 12.0.12.27 could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code due to improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-14T20:16:41.460Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-14T20:16:41.460Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A critical OS command injection vulnerability exists in IBM App Connect Enterprise versions 13.0.1.0 through 13.0.8.0 and 12.0.1.0 through 12.0.12.27.\nThe vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, allowing a local attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service.\nThis flaw poses a significant security risk as it permits an attacker to bypass intended security controls, potentially resulting in full system compromise, unauthorized data access, or the disruption of application services.\nThe exploitation requires the attacker to have local access to the system. While remote exploitation is not natively described, this local primitive is often a critical component in multi-stage attack chains where low-privileged users seek to escalate privileges to the service account level.\nOrganizations using the specified versions of IBM App Connect Enterprise are exposed to unauthorized command execution if an attacker can manipulate inputs processed by the vulnerable component. Immediate attention to vendor-supplied updates is necessary to mitigate this risk.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is characterized as an OS command injection flaw, stemming from the insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input before it is passed to a system shell or executive function. When the application processes these inputs, it fails to neutralize special shell metacharacters or command delimiters properly, allowing the injection of unauthorized OS commands.\nThe root cause involves the application logic constructing system-level commands using unsanitized variables. By injecting specific shell sequences—such as semicolons, pipe symbols, or backticks—into input fields, an attacker can escape the intended command context and append additional, malicious instructions that the operating system then executes.\nThe attack flow begins with the local attacker identifying an input vector that interfaces with the underlying operating system. Because the vulnerability is local, the attacker must have a foothold or valid local account on the server hosting the IBM App Connect Enterprise instance. Upon identifying the vulnerable function or interface, the attacker crafts a payload designed to trigger unintended command execution.\nOnce the payload reaches the vulnerable component, the system executes the malicious command with the effective user ID (EUID) of the App Connect process. This typically leads to post-exploitation scenarios such as the retrieval of sensitive environment variables, the modification of configuration files, the installation of persistent backdoors, or the lateral movement within the host infrastructure.\nThe affected versions include IBM App Connect Enterprise 13.0.1.0 through 13.0.8.0, and 12.0.1.0 through 12.0.12.27. Exploitation is constrained by the attacker's ability to interface with the vulnerable application's local management or processing interfaces. Successful execution relies on the application process having sufficient permissions on the OS to perform the injected actions, meaning the impact is tied directly to the privilege level of the IBM App Connect service account.\nThere is no requirement for complex network-based exploit primitives, as the attack is inherently local. However, the lack of input validation makes this a high-impact vulnerability, as it effectively negates the security boundaries typically provided by the application layer, allowing for direct interaction with the host operating system."
}