CVE-2010-0774 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) JAX-RPC WS-Security 1.0 and (2) JAX-WS runtime implementations in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.0 before 6.0.2.41, 6.1 before 6.1.0.31, and 7.0 before 7.0.0.11 do not properly handle WebServices PKCS#7 and PKIPath tokens, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0774 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server implementations of JAX-RPC and JAX-WS runtime environments across multiple versions including 6.0 before 6.0.2.41, 6.1 before 6.1.0.31, and 7.0 before 7.0.0.11. This security flaw resides within the WebServices Security framework that handles PKCS#7 and PKIPath tokens, which are critical components in establishing secure communications within enterprise web applications. The vulnerability represents a significant weakness in the authentication and authorization mechanisms that protect enterprise resources from unauthorized access attempts.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of WebServices PKCS#7 and PKIPath tokens within the WS-Security implementation of IBM WebSphere Application Server. These tokens are essential for establishing trust relationships between web services and their clients, typically used to validate digital signatures and certificates that authenticate parties in secure communications. When the system fails to properly process these tokens, it creates a condition where attackers can exploit the weak validation logic to bypass access controls that should restrict unauthorized users from accessing protected web services. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack pathways exist within the token processing logic, potentially including manipulation of certificate chains or signature validation procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access bypass to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within enterprise networks. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to web services that are protected by WS-Security, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the core security infrastructure of WebSphere Application Server, meaning that any application deployed on affected versions that relies on WS-Security for authentication and authorization could be compromised. This creates a cascading effect where multiple applications and services become vulnerable to the same attack vector.
Organizations running affected IBM WebSphere Application Server versions should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM security patches and updates. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software implementations, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. System administrators should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, while also reviewing existing security policies to ensure proper certificate management and token validation procedures are in place. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of updated environments to ensure that the security fix does not introduce compatibility issues with existing web service implementations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as intrusion detection systems and regular security assessments to identify and mitigate similar vulnerabilities in their web service infrastructure.