CVE-2009-2747 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
The Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) implementation in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.0 before 6.0.2.39, 6.1 before 6.1.0.29, and 7.0 before 7.0.0.7 does not properly restrict access to UserRegistry object methods, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted method call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2747 represents a critical access control flaw within IBM WebSphere Application Server's Java Naming and Directory Interface implementation. This weakness specifically targets the UserRegistry object methods that manage user authentication and authorization within the application server environment. The flaw exists in multiple versions of WebSphere Application Server including 6.0 prior to 6.0.2.39, 6.1 prior to 6.1.0.29, and 7.0 prior to 7.0.0.7, indicating a widespread issue affecting the core directory services functionality of these server versions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of method calls that should be restricted to authorized administrative users, creating an avenue for unauthorized access to sensitive user information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and specifically relates to insufficient privilege checking within directory service implementations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious method calls that target the UserRegistry object methods, bypassing normal authentication and authorization checks. This allows remote adversaries to retrieve sensitive information including user credentials, authentication tokens, and other privileged data that should normally be restricted to administrative users only. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or physical presence to leverage this weakness.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise security infrastructure as it directly compromises the integrity of user authentication systems. Organizations running affected WebSphere versions face potential data breaches where sensitive user information could be extracted and potentially used for further attacks including credential stuffing, privilege escalation, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate information disclosure as it undermines the trust model of the application server, potentially enabling attackers to impersonate legitimate users or gain unauthorized administrative access. Security teams must consider this weakness as a potential entry point for more sophisticated attack vectors, particularly in environments where WebSphere serves as a central authentication hub.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of vendor-provided security patches and updates to the affected WebSphere Application Server versions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of WebSphere servers to untrusted networks, following ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service discovery and T1071 for application layer protocol usage. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual method call patterns targeting UserRegistry objects, implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts, and conducting thorough security assessments of directory service configurations. Administrators should also review and tighten access controls for JNDI services, ensuring that only authorized personnel can make privileged method calls to directory services. The remediation process must include verification that the patches have been properly applied and that no backdoors or persistent access mechanisms were established during potential exploitation attempts.