Description

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 access sensitive information belonging to other tenants due to improper validation of a path parameter. A path value in a request is not sufficiently validated, which could allow a user to reach data outside their own tenant.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "8.5",
  "pubDate": "2026-11-07T05:18:51.750Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-11-07T05:18:51.750Z",
  "executiveSummary": "This vulnerability involves an improper path validation flaw within IBM API Connect, classified as a multi-tenancy isolation failure.\nThe vulnerability allows a remote, authenticated attacker to bypass organizational boundaries and access sensitive data belonging to other tenants.\nAffected products include IBM API Connect versions 10.0.8.0 through 10.0.8.12 and 12.1.0.0 through 12.1.1.2.\nThe primary risk implication is a critical breach of data confidentiality, as the authentication mechanisms are insufficient to prevent cross-tenant resource traversal.\nSuccessful exploitation requires the attacker to possess valid credentials within the system; however, the vulnerability allows the attacker to escalate their scope beyond their authorized tenant to access unauthorized external datasets.\nThe flaw stems from insufficient server-side validation of path parameters, which fails to enforce strict object-level access control based on the authenticated user's tenant identifier.\nThis vulnerability exposes organizations to significant risks regarding regulatory compliance, intellectual property theft, and unauthorized exposure of private client information residing on the multi-tenant platform.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is rooted in an improper input validation mechanism applied to path parameters during API requests. Within the architecture of IBM API Connect, the system is designed to segregate data logically between different tenants; however, the validation logic fails to sanitize or constrain the path parameters provided by the user, leading to a path traversal or authorization bypass condition.\nThe root cause is identified as an insufficient check on the requested path resource against the authenticated user's session context. When an authenticated user submits a request, the backend application fails to perform a deterministic verification that the path parameter conforms to the allowed URI scope associated with the caller's specific tenant ID. Instead of strictly enforcing tenant isolation at the service level, the application accepts maliciously crafted path values that direct the internal resource resolver to addresses outside the caller's authorized namespace.\nExploitation occurs through a specifically crafted request where an attacker manipulates the path component of a URL to point toward restricted resources. By injecting path traversal sequences or alternative resource identifiers into the target endpoint, the attacker can influence the application's internal data retrieval logic. Because the validation layer does not reconcile the requested path with the tenant identity established during authentication, the system treats the out-of-scope request as legitimate.\nThe attack flow proceeds as follows: First, the attacker establishes a valid authenticated session within their own tenant environment. Second, the attacker intercepts or constructs an API request targeting a sensitive resource. Third, the attacker modifies the path parameter to reference a resource belonging to a different tenant. Fourth, the application, failing to perform an effective cross-tenant access control check, processes the request and returns the unauthorized data to the attacker.\nThis vulnerability impacts the data access layer, specifically affecting how resources are resolved in a multi-tenant environment. The lack of granular path validation means that any data indexed or accessible through the API can potentially be retrieved if the attacker can guess or identify the target resource's path. This results in unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including configuration data, API definitions, or user information stored within isolated tenants."
}