CVE-2010-0776 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
The Web Container in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.0 before 6.0.2.43, 6.1 before 6.1.0.31, and 7.0 before 7.0.0.11 does not properly handle chunked transfer encoding during a call to response.sendRedirect, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0776 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server versions prior to specific patch levels, creating a significant security weakness in the web container component that handles HTTP response processing. This flaw specifically manifests when the application server processes chunked transfer encoding during redirect operations, representing a critical gap in the server's request handling mechanisms. The vulnerability exists within the core HTTP response processing pipeline where the server fails to properly validate or sanitize chunked encoding data during redirect operations, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of chunked transfer encoding parameters within the response.sendRedirect method invocation. When a web application calls this method, the WebSphere container processes the redirect response using chunked encoding but fails to properly handle malformed or maliciously constructed chunked data. This processing error creates a condition where the server's response handling mechanism becomes unstable, leading to potential resource exhaustion or complete service disruption. The flaw specifically impacts the server's ability to parse and process chunked HTTP responses during redirect operations, where chunked encoding is used to transmit data in multiple parts without specifying the total content length.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it represents a fundamental weakness in the application server's request processing architecture that can be exploited by attackers with minimal privileges. Remote attackers can construct specially crafted GET requests that trigger the vulnerable code path, causing the WebSphere server to consume excessive resources or enter an unstable state that results in complete service unavailability. The vulnerability affects multiple major versions of IBM WebSphere Application Server, including 6.0, 6.1, and 7.0, indicating a widespread issue that impacts numerous enterprise deployments. This vulnerability can be classified under CWE-129 as an improper validation of input, specifically related to insufficient validation of chunked transfer encoding data during HTTP response processing.
Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through standard HTTP request methods without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it particularly dangerous in production environments. The exploitation process involves sending a GET request with malformed chunked encoding parameters that trigger the specific code path in the web container's redirect handling logic. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion or service disruption. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat that can be repeatedly exploited to maintain service disruption, potentially causing significant business impact through extended periods of unavailability.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of their WebSphere Application Server installations to the recommended versions that contain the necessary security fixes. The patches provided by IBM address the specific validation issues in the chunked transfer encoding handling within the response.sendRedirect method, ensuring proper input validation and preventing the exploitation conditions that lead to denial of service. Additionally, network-level mitigations such as implementing proper request filtering and monitoring for unusual chunked encoding patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing application-level protections that validate HTTP headers and request parameters before they reach the vulnerable server components, reducing the attack surface and providing additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities.