CVE-2011-1313 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Double free vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.1.0.x before 6.1.0.35 and 7.x before 7.0.0.15 allows remote backend IIOP servers to cause a denial of service (S0C4 ABEND and storage corruption) by rejecting IIOP requests at opportunistic time instants, as demonstrated by requests associated with an ORB_Request::getACRWorkElementPtr function call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-1313 represents a critical double free condition within IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 6.1.0.x prior to 6.1.0.35 and 7.x prior to 7.0.0.15. This flaw specifically affects the IIOP (Internet Inter-ORB Protocol) implementation within the application server, creating a scenario where remote backend IIOP servers can exploit the vulnerability to trigger system instability. The vulnerability manifests through the ORB_Request::getACRWorkElementPtr function call, which serves as the primary attack vector for this particular weakness.
The technical nature of this double free vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the WebSphere Application Server's IIOP processing components. When an IIOP request is processed and subsequently rejected at specific timing intervals, the application server's memory management routines execute the same free operation twice on the same memory block. This memory corruption occurs during the handling of ORB (Object Request Broker) requests, particularly when the getACRWorkElementPtr function is invoked. The vulnerability's exploitation requires precise timing and specific conditions that allow an attacker to manipulate the IIOP communication flow to force this memory management error.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially cause system crashes and data corruption. When exploited successfully, the double free condition results in S0C4 ABEND errors, which represent serious system-level failures in the mainframe environment where WebSphere Application Server typically operates. These abend conditions can lead to complete system shutdowns and require manual intervention to restore normal operations. Additionally, the storage corruption aspect indicates that the memory corruption could affect other running processes or system components, potentially leading to more widespread system instability and data integrity issues.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-415, which describes double free conditions in memory management, and represents a classic example of how improper resource handling can lead to system instability. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, where an attacker leverages protocol-level weaknesses to compromise system availability. The specific timing requirements for exploitation suggest that this vulnerability could be particularly challenging to defend against, as it requires precise control over network communication patterns and request processing sequences. Organizations running affected WebSphere versions should prioritize patching to address this vulnerability, as the potential for system-wide disruption makes it a high-priority security concern for enterprise environments relying on this application server platform.