CVE-2010-4595 in Lotus Mobile Connect
Summary
by MITRE
The Connection Manager in IBM Lotus Mobile Connect before 6.1.4 disables the http.device.stanza blacklisting functionality for HTTP Access Services (HTTP-AS), which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via an HTTP request that contains a disallowed User-Agent header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-4595 represents a critical security flaw in IBM Lotus Mobile Connect version 6.1.3 and earlier, where the Connection Manager component fails to properly enforce HTTP device stanza blacklisting mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically affects the HTTP Access Services (HTTP-AS) functionality within the mobile connectivity framework, creating a significant bypass opportunity for remote attackers seeking to circumvent access controls that should restrict device connections based on User-Agent header values. The issue stems from the improper implementation of security controls that were designed to prevent unauthorized access through the manipulation of HTTP request headers, which are commonly used as a means of device identification and access restriction within mobile application environments.
The technical flaw manifests when the Connection Manager component disables the http.device.stanza blacklisting functionality, effectively removing the security layer that would normally validate and restrict incoming HTTP requests based on predefined device patterns. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting HTTP requests that include disallowed User-Agent headers, which would normally be rejected by the system's access control mechanisms. This bypass allows unauthorized devices or malicious actors to establish connections that should have been blocked, effectively undermining the intended security posture of the HTTP-AS service. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages HTTP protocol characteristics, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web-based attack vectors without requiring specialized tools or deep system knowledge.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypass, as it creates potential entry points for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to mobile services and potentially escalate their privileges within the connected network environment. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to access restricted resources, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, or further exploitation of the connected mobile infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on IBM Lotus Mobile Connect for managing mobile device access and connectivity, particularly those in enterprise environments where mobile device management and access control are critical components of overall security posture. This flaw represents a significant risk to organizations that depend on proper access control mechanisms to protect sensitive corporate data and services.
Organizations should immediately update their IBM Lotus Mobile Connect installations to version 6.1.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to restore the disabled blacklisting functionality. Security administrators should also implement additional monitoring of HTTP access logs to detect suspicious User-Agent patterns and unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in network security. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and initial access through web application exploitation, specifically targeting the T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1078 - Valid Accounts categories. Additional mitigations include implementing network-level access controls, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar configuration weaknesses in other components of the mobile connectivity infrastructure.