CVE-2009-2749 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Feature Pack for Communications Enabled Applications (CEA) before 1.0.0.1 for IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0.0.7 uses predictable session values, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof a collaboration session by guessing the value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2749 affects the Feature Pack for Communications Enabled Applications within IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0.0.7, specifically before version 1.0.0.1. This issue represents a significant security weakness in session management mechanisms that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise collaborative communication sessions. The vulnerability stems from the predictable nature of session identifiers generated by the CEA component, creating an attack surface that enables unauthorized parties to impersonate legitimate users within the communication framework.
The technical flaw lies in the cryptographic weakness of the session value generation algorithm used by the Feature Pack for Communications Enabled Applications. When session identifiers are predictable, attackers can perform session prediction attacks to guess valid session tokens and subsequently hijack active collaboration sessions. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles of session management, as secure session tokens should be cryptographically random and unpredictable to prevent such attacks. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-330, which specifically addresses the use of weak entropy sources in random number generation, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where communication sessions contain sensitive data and business-critical information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it enables man-in-the-middle attackers to establish fraudulent communication sessions with legitimate participants. This capability allows adversaries to intercept, modify, or redirect communication traffic between collaborating parties, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized access to corporate resources, and disruption of business processes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in distributed enterprise environments where WebSphere Application Server facilitates communication between multiple applications and systems, as it could enable attackers to compromise entire communication infrastructures. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication and can be executed by threat actors with basic network reconnaissance capabilities, making it a high-risk vulnerability for organizations relying on the affected software components.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version 1.0.0.1 of the Feature Pack for Communications Enabled Applications, which addresses the predictable session value issue through improved cryptographic session token generation. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious session activity, and establishing robust monitoring procedures for communication session integrity. Security teams should also consider implementing additional authentication layers and session validation mechanisms to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and session manipulation, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls that address both technical and operational aspects of session management security.