CVE-2011-1377 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
The Web Services Security component in the Web Services Feature Pack before 6.1.0.41 for IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.1 does not properly handle the enabling of WS-Security for a JAX-WS application, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1377 resides within the Web Services Security component of IBM WebSphere Application Server version 6.1.0.41 and earlier releases. This flaw specifically affects the Web Services Feature Pack implementation where the WS-Security configuration for JAX-WS applications fails to properly validate or enforce security settings during the enabling process. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and configuration handling mechanisms within the security framework, creating potential gaps in the authentication and authorization processes for web services.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a configuration management issue where WS-Security features intended to protect web services communications may not be correctly activated or enforced. This misconfiguration can lead to scenarios where sensitive web service endpoints remain unprotected despite security policies being configured. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically impacts the security infrastructure that governs how web services communicate securely within the IBM WebSphere environment. The unspecified impact suggests that attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to bypass security controls, though the exact attack vectors remain undetermined in the original description.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on IBM WebSphere Application Server for their web service implementations. The potential impact includes unauthorized access to web service endpoints, data interception, and possible privilege escalation within the application server environment. Security administrators may observe that despite configuring WS-Security protections, the actual security posture of web services remains compromised. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that depend on secure web service communications for business-critical applications, potentially exposing sensitive data and business processes to unauthorized access.
The security implications of CVE-2011-1377 align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting weak security configurations in enterprise applications. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to IBM WebSphere Application Server 6.1.0.41 or later versions that contain the patched Web Services Feature Pack. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all JAX-WS applications to verify proper WS-Security configuration and enforcement. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous web service access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of web service endpoints are recommended to ensure that security configurations remain effective against evolving threats.