# CVE-2013-0517: Command injection in Sterling External Authentication Server

> A local attacker can execute arbitrary code on IBM Sterling External Authentication Server via an OS command injection vulnerability.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 11 Feb 2020
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jq67-2wg6-5wgp

## What is CVE-2013-0517?

CVE-2013-0517 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in IBM Sterling External Authentication Server, published on 11 Feb 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A Command Execution Vulnerability exists in IBM Sterling External Authentication Server 2.2.0, 2.3.01, 2.4.0, and 2.4.1 via an unspecified OS command, which could let a local malicious user execute arbitrary code.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-0517?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Sterling External Authentication Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-0517?

No fix has been published for CVE-2013-0517 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2013-0517 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-0517 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in IBM Sterling External Authentication Server

- [CVE-2020-4462](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4462/): XML external entity in External Authentication Server (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2022-22336](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22336/): Denial of service in Sterling Secure Proxy (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2022-22333](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22333/): Memory corruption in Sterling Secure Proxy (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2021-29722](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29722/): Weak cryptography in Sterling Secure Proxy (medium 5.9)
- [CVE-2021-29723](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29723/): Weak cryptography in Sterling Secure Proxy (medium 5.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2013-0517 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-0517 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in IBM Sterling External Authentication Server, published on 11 Feb 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-0517 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: IBM Sterling External Authentication Server. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0517/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0517/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-0517
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-0517
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-0517

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0517/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.