CVE-2006-2436 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
WebSphere Application Server 5.0.2 (or any earlier cumulative fix) stores admin and LDAP passwords in plaintext in the FFDC logs when a login to WebSphere fails, which allows attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2436 represents a critical security flaw in IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 5.0.2 and earlier, specifically within the fail-fast error logging mechanism. This issue arises from improper handling of authentication failures where the system logs sensitive credential information in an unencrypted format, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors. The flaw manifests when authentication attempts fail, triggering the generation of FFDC (First Failure Data Capture) logs that contain plaintext passwords for both administrative accounts and LDAP users, effectively undermining the fundamental security principles of credential protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application server's error handling routines that do not properly sanitize or filter sensitive data before writing it to diagnostic logs. When authentication fails, the WebSphere server generates detailed error information including user credentials, which are then stored in FFDC log files without any encryption or obfuscation. This design flaw directly violates security best practices and creates an environment where attackers can gain unauthorized access to privileged accounts simply by accessing these log files. The vulnerability operates at the application level and affects the server's internal logging mechanisms rather than external network protocols, making it particularly insidious as it can be exploited without requiring network access or sophisticated attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with immediate access to administrative credentials that could lead to complete system compromise. Once an attacker gains access to the FFDC logs, they can extract plaintext passwords and use them to authenticate as administrators or LDAP users, potentially gaining elevated privileges and unrestricted access to sensitive applications and data. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on WebSphere for mission-critical applications, as it creates a persistent backdoor that remains active until the logs are properly secured or the system is patched. The exposure period is extended since these logs may remain accessible for extended periods during system maintenance or troubleshooting activities, providing attackers with multiple opportunities to exploit the weakness.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting access to FFDC log directories, implementing proper file system permissions, and ensuring that sensitive data is not logged in plaintext format. The recommended approach involves configuring the application server to disable or sanitize sensitive information in error logs, implementing regular log rotation and cleanup procedures, and establishing monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts to log files. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability directly relates to CWE-532 Information Exposure Through Log Files and addresses ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it provides adversaries with legitimate administrative credentials. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as intrusion detection systems and file integrity monitoring to prevent unauthorized access to these critical log files while ensuring that any remediation efforts align with industry standards including NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure logging and access control mechanisms.