IBM Sterling B2B Integrator
CVE-2015-7450
CRITICAL
Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessIdentify exposed IBM Sterling/Tivoli service
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DeliverySend crafted serialized Java object to deserialization endpoint
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ExploitTrigger InvokerTransformer gadget chain execution
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ExecutionExecute arbitrary OS commands as application user
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ImpactEstablish persistent backdoor access
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A08:2021 - Software and Data Integrity Failures
ASVS 5.0
V10 - Malicious Code Integrity verification, supply chain security
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Initial Access The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | No special conditions-remote unauthenticated exploitation against default configurations of IBM Sterling B2B Integrator, Sterling Integrator, and Tivoli Common Reporting that expose serialized-object interfaces (typically JMX ports 9043/9044, RMI endpoints, or HTTP/HTTPS web service endpoints configured to accept serialized Java objects). Exploitation requires only network reachability to the vulnerable service port and does not depend on user interaction, authentication, or non-default configuration. The CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N confirms trivial exploitation conditions. The only limiting factor is network accessibility-internal-only deployments behind strict firewall rules reduce exposure, but lateral movement from compromised systems can still reach these targets. |
| Impact | This represents critical real-world risk with multiple high-confidence exploitation signals converging: CVSS 9.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) confirms trivial remote exploitation requiring no authentication or user interaction; CISA KEV status confirms active exploitation by threat actors; EPSS 93.49% (100th percentile) indicates near-certainty of exploitation attempts against vulnerable instances; and public exploit code (Exploit-DB 41613) lowers the skill barrier for opportunistic attackers. The SSVC framework would classify this as 'Immediate' priority: exploitation is active (KEV-confirmed), automatable (network-accessible deserialization endpoint), and technical impact is total system compromise (arbitrary command execution). The only mitigating factor is that affected products are enterprise-focused IBM middleware, potentially limiting exposure compared to internet-facing web applications, but any exposed instance faces imminent compromise risk. This is definitively a patch-now situation, not a schedule-for-next-cycle vulnerability. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An unauthenticated attacker identifies an IBM Sterling B2B Integrator instance exposed on the internet, scans for open JMX or web service ports accepting serialized Java input, and sends a crafted serialized payload containing an Apache Commons Collections InvokerTransformer gadget chain (using publicly available exploit code from Exploit-DB 41613). Upon deserialization, the payload executes operating system commands with the privileges of the application server process, typically establishing a reverse shell for full system compromise. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv2 – Apr 21, 2026
Remote code execution in IBM Sterling B2B Integrator, Sterling Integrator, and Tivoli Common Reporting allows unauthenticated network attackers to execute arbitrary commands by sending malicious serialized Java objects exploiting the Apache Commons Collections InvokerTransformer class. This vulnerability is confirmed actively exploited in the wild per CISA KEV, with public exploit code available (Exploit-DB 41613) and an exceptionally high EPSS score of 93.49%, indicating near-certain exploitation probability. Affected products include Sterling B2B Integrator 5.2, Sterling Integrator 5.1, and Tivoli Common Reporting versions 2.1 through 3.1.2.1.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
IBM analytics, business, cognitive, and infrastructure products expose serialized-object interfaces that accept untrusted Java objects. The Apache Commons Collections InvokerTransformer gadget chain enables unauthenticated remote code execution.
RemediationAI
Apply vendor-released patches immediately per IBM Security Bulletins swg21970575, swg21971342, swg21971376, swg21971758, and swg21972799, which provide specific fix versions for each affected product line (exact patched versions are documented in the individual bulletins linked in references). If immediate patching is infeasible, implement network segmentation to restrict access to serialization endpoints to trusted IP ranges only, disable or remove JMX/RMI remote access if not operationally required (note: this may break monitoring/management tools), and deploy intrusion prevention signatures targeting known Commons Collections deserialization payloads (available from major IPS vendors post-2015). Given confirmed active exploitation, workarounds provide minimal protection-prioritize emergency patching within 24-48 hours for internet-exposed instances and within one week for internal systems.
Affects your stack
Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability exploits unsafe Java object deserialization (CWE-502) in applications using vulnerable versions of Apache Commons Collections 3.x. The InvokerTransformer class allows attackers to construct serialized objects that, when deserialized by the application, invoke arbitrary methods through reflection. IBM products expose serialized-object interfaces (likely JMX, RMI, or HTTP endpoints accepting serialized data) without proper input validation. The CPE data identifies specific affected versions: Sterling B2B Integrator 5.2.x, Sterling Integrator 5.1.x, and Tivoli Common Reporting 2.1.x through 3.1.2.1. The root cause is the inherently dangerous design of InvokerTransformer combined with application acceptance of untrusted serialized input, enabling gadget chain construction that achieves code execution.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionCVE.org
Serialized-object interfaces in certain IBM analytics, business solutions, cognitive, IT infrastructure, and mobile and social products allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted serialized Java object, related to the InvokerTransformer class in the Apache Commons Collections library.
Executive ViewAI
CVE-2015-7450 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in IBM Sterling B2B Integrator, Sterling Integrator, and Tivoli Common Reporting that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. This vulnerability is confirmed actively exploited (CISA KEV) with public exploit code available, creating an immediate risk to any organization operating these integration platforms, particularly those managing B2B communications or financial data flows.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: Restrict network access to Sterling B2B Integrator, Sterling Integrator, and Tivoli Common Reporting services using firewall rules and VPN requirements; disable or isolate these services if not actively in use; deploy Web Application Firewalls or network intrusion prevention systems configured to detect and block serialized Java object deserialization patterns; monitor application logs and system logs for unusual process execution or command activity; consider immediate upgrade to a newer, supported product version.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
CISA KEV
EPSS
Exploit-DB
VulDB
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Insecure deserialization occurs when an application converts serialized data (a stream of bytes representing an object's state) back into a living object without proper validation.
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
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GitHub PoC