CVE-2009-0897 in WebSphere Partner Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Partner Gateway (WPG) 6.1.0 before 6.1.0.1 and 6.1.1 before 6.1.1.1 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via vectors related to the "schema DB2 instance id" and the bcgarchive (aka the archiver script).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2017
IBM WebSphere Partner Gateway version 6.1.0 before 6.1.0.1 and 6.1.1 before 6.1.1.1 contains a sensitive data exposure vulnerability that affects authenticated remote attackers. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of database schema information within the system's architecture, specifically relating to the DB2 instance identifier and the bcgarchive component. The flaw allows attackers with valid credentials to extract confidential information that should remain protected within the system's internal structures. The vulnerability exists in the way the system processes and exposes schema information during archive operations, creating an information disclosure channel that bypasses normal access controls. This issue falls under the category of information exposure vulnerabilities as classified by CWE-200, where sensitive data is unintentionally made available to unauthorized actors. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials before exploiting this weakness, though the impact remains significant as it provides access to internal system metadata that could aid in further exploitation attempts. The bcgarchive script, also known as the archiver script, serves as the primary mechanism through which the sensitive information is accessible, making it a critical component in the exploitation chain. This vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient logging and monitoring controls, where system administrators may not be aware of the unauthorized access to internal schema information. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as this metadata could provide attackers with insights into the underlying database structure, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks against the system's database layer.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in proper input validation and output sanitization within the WebSphere Partner Gateway's archive processing functionality. When the bcgarchive script executes, it inadvertently includes database instance identifiers and schema information in its output, creating an information leak that reveals internal system configuration details. This flaw operates at the application level rather than at the network or infrastructure layer, making it particularly challenging to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches. The vulnerability specifically affects the schema handling mechanisms within the DB2 integration components of the gateway, where instance identification information becomes exposed during normal archive operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gather detailed information about the database environment, including instance names, schema structures, and potentially connection parameters that could be used in subsequent attacks. The authentication requirement does not adequately protect against this information disclosure, indicating that the system's access control mechanisms fail to properly restrict access to internal metadata. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.001 for data from information repositories, where attackers gather information from databases and repository systems to support their operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly beyond the immediate information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used to plan more targeted attacks against the system. The exposed DB2 instance identifiers and schema information could enable attackers to perform more sophisticated database attacks, including potential injection attempts or privilege escalation within the database layer. System administrators should be particularly concerned about the potential for this vulnerability to be combined with other weaknesses to create more severe attack scenarios. The fact that this vulnerability affects multiple versions within the 6.1.x release line indicates a systemic issue in how the system handles schema information during archive operations, suggesting that the problem may exist in core architectural components rather than isolated modules. Organizations using IBM WebSphere Partner Gateway should implement immediate monitoring to detect any unauthorized access attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper access control implementation in enterprise systems, where even authenticated users should not be granted access to internal system metadata that could aid in further attacks. This weakness creates a potential attack surface that could be leveraged by attackers to gain deeper insights into the system's architecture and database configurations, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on this platform for partner gateway functionality. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-200 emphasizes the need for comprehensive information protection measures throughout the application lifecycle, including proper input validation, output encoding, and access control implementations that prevent unauthorized exposure of sensitive system information.