CVE-2004-0684 in Websphere Caching Proxy Server
Summary
by MITRE
WebSphere Edge Component Caching Proxy in WebSphere Edge Server 5.02, with the JunctionRewrite directive enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via an HTTP GET request without any parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0684 represents a critical denial of service flaw within IBM WebSphere Edge Server version 5.02, specifically affecting the Edge Component Caching Proxy functionality. This issue manifests when the JunctionRewrite directive is enabled, creating a condition where remote attackers can exploit the system by sending specially crafted HTTP GET requests that contain no parameters whatsoever. The vulnerability stems from the server's inadequate handling of empty or parameterless requests within its caching proxy mechanism, which forms part of the broader WebSphere Edge Server architecture designed for content delivery and web application acceleration.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the caching proxy component failing to properly validate incoming HTTP requests when the JunctionRewrite directive is active. When a parameterless HTTP GET request reaches the server, the caching mechanism attempts to process the request without sufficient input validation, leading to a condition where the system becomes unresponsive or crashes entirely. This behavior can be categorized under CWE-400, which addresses unspecified errors in input validation, and more specifically aligns with CWE-121, concerning stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the actual manifestation occurs at the application level rather than in memory corruption. The flaw essentially creates a scenario where legitimate request processing becomes impossible, as the system becomes trapped in an error state or enters a loop attempting to process the malformed request.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on WebSphere Edge Server for content delivery and web application acceleration services. The denial of service condition can result in complete service interruption for users accessing applications protected by the caching proxy, potentially affecting thousands of concurrent users depending on the scale of deployment. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability with minimal technical skill, requiring only basic HTTP request construction capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where continuous availability is critical. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect business continuity, customer satisfaction, and potentially lead to financial losses due to extended downtime periods.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the T1499 category for Network Denial of Service, where attackers leverage application-level flaws to render systems unavailable. This vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it specifically targets HTTP protocol handling within the web server component. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the JunctionRewrite directive when not required, applying the relevant IBM security patches, and implementing network-level controls such as rate limiting and request validation to prevent parameterless GET requests from reaching the vulnerable caching proxy component. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of empty requests that may indicate exploitation attempts, providing early warning capabilities for potential attacks targeting this specific vulnerability.