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 execute arbitrary code due to insufficient validation of uploaded content. Content uploaded to the product is not sufficiently checked before it is processed, which could allow code to run on the server.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "9.9",
  "pubDate": "2026-11-07T05:18:55.790Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-11-07T05:18:55.790Z",
  "executiveSummary": "IBM API Connect versions 10.0.8.0 through 10.0.8.12 and 12.1.0.0 through 12.1.1.2 are susceptible to a Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability stemming from inadequate validation of user-supplied content.\nThe vulnerability allows a remote, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the underlying server by uploading malicious content that bypasses existing security filters.\nSuccessful exploitation compromises the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of the affected API Connect instance.\nThe risk is critical, as it grants attackers the ability to perform unauthorized system operations, access sensitive data, or establish persistence within the server environment.\nExploitation requires the attacker to possess authenticated access to the system, though the specific privileges required remain contingent on the system's authorization configuration.\nDefensive measures involve immediate software updates provided by the vendor to address the improper validation logic within the product's file handling mechanisms.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability originates from a failure to perform rigorous integrity and syntax validation on content uploaded to IBM API Connect. The product processes files or data streams provided by users without sufficient sanitization or verification, allowing malicious payloads to be injected into the server's processing pipeline.\nThe root cause is an improper validation mechanism within the input processing layer. When an authenticated user initiates an upload, the application fails to restrict the nature or structure of the content adequately. This oversight allows an attacker to provide crafted content that is misinterpreted or executed by the server-side components responsible for handling the upload.\nThe exploitation flow begins with an authenticated attacker gaining access to an interface that permits content uploads. The attacker constructs a payload designed to exploit the server's processing environment—such as a file containing executable code or instructions that trigger secondary execution vectors.\nUpon transmission to the target, the product accepts the malicious content as legitimate input. The underlying processing engine, lacking necessary filtering or sandboxing, proceeds to execute, deserialize, or include the malicious content in subsequent operations. This results in the execution of arbitrary commands within the security context of the API Connect process.\nThis vulnerability is specifically 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. Because the execution occurs server-side, the attacker can leverage the application's service account permissions to interact with the local filesystem, environment variables, and potentially internal network resources.\nPost-exploitation impact includes full system compromise, potential escalation of privileges, and the ability to exfiltrate proprietary API definitions or sensitive authentication material stored within the API Connect environment. Since the processing occurs upon upload, the attack vector is direct and does not require complex chaining if the attacker has valid credentials, making the mitigation of input validation logic a critical priority for system administrators."
}