CriticalPublic exploit

Argument Injection in IBM Installation Manager iim: URI Handler

IdentifiersCVE-2009-3518CWE-77

CVE-2009-3518 is an argument injection vulnerability in the iim: URI handler implemented by IBMIM.exe in IBM Installation Manager 1.3.2 and earlier. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary command-line arguments, specifically the -vm option, which can be used to load arbitrary DLL files. This can be exploited by referencing a DLL on a remote UNC share, leading to execution of attacker-controlled code in the context of the affected application. The vulnerability affects IBM Rational Robot and Rational Team Concert, which utilize the vulnerable IBM Installation Manager.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows remote code execution by loading arbitrary DLLs, potentially leading to full compromise of the affected system. Attackers can execute code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application, which may result in data theft, system manipulation, or further lateral movement within a network.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

As a temporary mitigation, unregister or disable the iim: URI handler to prevent exploitation via crafted URIs. Additionally, restrict access to remote UNC shares and ensure that only trusted users can register protocol handlers on affected systems.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade IBM Installation Manager to a version later than 1.3.2 where the iim: URI handler properly sanitizes and restricts command-line arguments, preventing arbitrary DLL loading via the -vm option. IBM has released patches and updated versions to address this issue.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No valid public exploits. Mallory filtered out 1 candidate as fakes, detection scripts, or README-only repos.

VALID 0 / 1 TOTALView more in app

All candidate exploits were filtered out by Mallory's validation.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

International Business MachinesInstallation Managerapplication

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

No public activity tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

0 SOURCESView more in app

No public activity observed for this vulnerability.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

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Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity