CVE-2022-35639 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager versions 6.1, 6.2, and Cloud 22.2 are affected by a vulnerability that allows an unbounded connection length, leading to server unresponsiveness.

Understanding CVE-2022-35639

This CVE impacts IBM's Sterling Partner Engagement Manager, potentially causing a denial of service due to unbounded connection length.

What is CVE-2022-35639?

The vulnerability in IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager versions 6.1, 6.2, and Cloud 22.2 allows attackers to create unbounded connections, rendering the server unresponsive.

The Impact of CVE-2022-35639

With a CVSS base score of 7.5, this high-severity vulnerability can result in a denial of service due to excessive connection length, affecting the availability of the server.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-35639

This section provides insight into the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

IBM Sterling Partner Engagement Manager versions 6.1, 6.2, and Cloud 22.2 do not restrict connection length, enabling an attacker to exploit this flaw and cause a denial of service.

Affected Systems and Versions

Sterling Partner Engagement Manager 6.1
Sterling Partner Engagement Manager 6.2
Sterling Partner Engagement Manager on Cloud 22.2

Exploitation Mechanism

By establishing unbounded connections, threat actors can overwhelm the server and exhaust its resources, leading to unresponsiveness.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-35639, immediate actions should be taken along with long-term security practices and regular patching.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes issued by IBM to limit connection length.
Monitor network traffic for anomalies that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement network intrusion detection systems to identify and block malicious connection attempts.
Conduct regular security audits to detect and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security bulletins from IBM for patches related to Sterling Partner Engagement Manager to mitigate the risk of a denial of service attack.