CVE-2010-0782 in WebSphere MQ
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere MQ 6.x before 6.0.2.10 and 7.x before 7.0.1.3 allows remote attackers to spoof X.509 certificate authentication, and send or receive channel messages, via a crafted Subject Distinguished Name (DN) value in a certificate.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2025
IBM WebSphere MQ versions 6.x prior to 6.0.2.10 and 7.x prior to 7.0.1.3 contain a critical certificate validation vulnerability that enables remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms through manipulated X.509 certificate Subject Distinguished Name values. This flaw resides in the certificate validation process where the system fails to properly validate the authenticity of certificate subject information, allowing malicious actors to craft certificates with misleading DN values that appear legitimate to the messaging system. The vulnerability specifically affects the channel authentication process where certificates are used to establish secure communication between messaging clients and the MQ server. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting certificates with forged Subject Distinguished Name fields that match expected patterns, thereby gaining unauthorized access to message channels and potentially intercepting or modifying sensitive data flows. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for credentials from password storage modules, as it enables unauthorized access to secure messaging channels through certificate manipulation rather than traditional credential theft methods. The impact extends beyond simple authentication bypass to include potential data interception and modification capabilities, as attackers can establish legitimate-looking connections to message queues and manipulate the flow of information between systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of certificate attributes during the authentication handshake process. When WebSphere MQ receives a certificate, it should rigorously validate all components of the certificate including the Subject Distinguished Name against established trust anchors and predefined authentication rules. However, the vulnerable versions fail to perform comprehensive validation of the DN structure, allowing attackers to craft certificates where the subject information appears to match expected values while maintaining control over the certificate's cryptographic integrity. This weakness creates a scenario where the system accepts certificates based on superficial appearance rather than cryptographic authenticity, effectively undermining the entire certificate-based security framework. The flaw particularly affects channel authentication where certificates are used to establish secure communication paths, making it possible for attackers to establish connections that appear legitimate to the MQ system's security mechanisms while actually being controlled by unauthorized parties. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where MQ systems communicate across trust boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on IBM WebSphere MQ for secure messaging infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to message queues, potentially intercepting sensitive business data, financial transactions, or confidential communications that should remain protected within the secure messaging framework. The ability to spoof authentication credentials through certificate manipulation means that attackers can establish persistent access to messaging channels, allowing them to monitor traffic, inject malicious messages, or disrupt normal operations. Organizations with distributed systems using WebSphere MQ for inter-system communication face particular risk, as the vulnerability can be leveraged to compromise entire message flow architectures. The vulnerability also impacts audit and compliance requirements since unauthorized access attempts may not be properly logged or detected, creating blind spots in security monitoring systems. Additionally, the exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to data integrity issues where attackers can modify messages in transit, potentially causing downstream systems to process corrupted information. The long-term implications include potential regulatory violations and loss of trust in the organization's security posture, particularly in industries with strict data protection requirements such as financial services, healthcare, or government sectors.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided security patches for IBM WebSphere MQ versions 6.0.2.10 and 7.0.1.3 to address this vulnerability. The patch addresses the certificate validation logic to ensure proper validation of Subject Distinguished Name fields and other certificate attributes during the authentication process. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected WebSphere MQ versions within their environment and prioritize patch deployment accordingly. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual certificate authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should implement certificate lifecycle management practices including regular certificate audits and validation of trust relationships. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as certificate pinning, enhanced logging of authentication events, and regular security testing of messaging infrastructure components. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in non-production environments to ensure compatibility with existing messaging applications and workflows. Additionally, organizations should review their overall security posture and consider implementing more robust authentication mechanisms such as mutual TLS authentication with strict certificate validation policies to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of their messaging infrastructure.