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 a stack-based buffer overflow.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.2",
  "pubDate": "2026-11-07T05:18:56.237Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-11-07T05:18:56.237Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A critical stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability has been identified in IBM API Connect, affecting versions 10.0.8.0 through 10.0.8.12 and 12.1.0.0 through 12.1.1.2.\nThis vulnerability originates from improper memory handling within the product, potentially allowing a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service.\nThe flaw poses a significant security risk, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized system access, compromise of data integrity, and potential full system compromise.\nExploitation requires the attacker to possess authenticated access to the target environment, after which they can leverage the overflow condition to overwrite memory, hijack execution flow, and inject malicious instructions.\nOrganizations using the specified versions of IBM API Connect are advised to assess their exposure and prioritize security updates to mitigate the risk of arbitrary code execution.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is characterized as a stack-based buffer overflow, occurring when the application fails to properly validate the length of input data before copying it into a fixed-size stack-allocated memory buffer.\nIn IBM API Connect versions 10.0.8.0 through 10.0.8.12 and 12.1.0.0 through 12.1.1.2, specific code paths do not enforce adequate bounds checking during the processing of authenticated requests.\nAn attacker triggers this vulnerability by providing a crafted, oversized payload that exceeds the capacity of the destination buffer. Because the buffer resides on the stack, the excess data overflows the buffer's boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory space, including saved frame pointers and the function return address.\nBy meticulously crafting the input, an attacker can overwrite the return address with an address pointing to malicious code or a Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) chain. When the function completes, the CPU redirects execution to the attacker-controlled instruction pointer, facilitating arbitrary code execution.\nThe attack flow follows a structured sequence: First, the attacker establishes an authenticated session with the IBM API Connect environment, which is a mandatory prerequisite for exploitation. Second, the attacker identifies an input vector handled by a vulnerable function that performs unsafe memory operations. Third, the attacker transmits the malicious payload designed to cause the overflow, effectively corrupting the stack frame.\nUpon successful redirection of the instruction pointer, the attacker can execute arbitrary commands with the security context of the service hosting the vulnerable code. Given that IBM API Connect often runs with elevated privileges, this impact can be severe, potentially allowing for lateral movement, data exfiltration, or complete persistence within the target system.\nThe vulnerability is limited by the requirement for authentication, which restricts the attack surface to authorized users or those who have compromised credentials. However, once authentication is achieved, the network exposure allows for remote exploitation, bypassing perimeter security controls that do not inspect the specific malicious traffic patterns within the authenticated stream.\nThere is no evidence of specific sanitization or boundary verification controls that sufficiently prevent this overflow, suggesting that the root cause is a fundamental design flaw in how the component handles user-supplied data on the stack."
}