CVE-2012-2191 in Global Security Kit
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Global Security Kit (aka GSKit) before 8.0.14.22, as used in IBM Rational Directory Server, IBM Tivoli Directory Server, and other products, does not properly validate data during execution of a protection mechanism against the Vaudenay SSL CBC timing attack, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via crafted values in the TLS Record Layer, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-2333.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2191 affects IBM Global Security Kit versions prior to 8.0.14.22, a cryptographic library utilized by several IBM directory services products including Rational Directory Server and Tivoli Directory Server. This flaw resides in the implementation of security mechanisms designed to protect against the Vaudenay SSL CBC timing attack, which represents a sophisticated cryptographic attack vector that exploits timing variations in cipher block chaining operations to extract information about encrypted data. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the protection mechanism itself fails to properly validate data during TLS record layer processing, creating a critical security gap that attackers can exploit through carefully crafted malicious inputs.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate validation of TLS record layer data within the GSKit's SSL/TLS implementation, particularly in how it handles the countermeasures against the Vaudenay attack. This vulnerability operates at the protocol level where the cryptographic library processes TLS records, specifically targeting the timing attack defense mechanisms that are supposed to prevent attackers from inferring plaintext data through timing analysis. When maliciously crafted values are sent through the TLS record layer, the flawed validation process causes the application to crash or become unresponsive, effectively creating a denial of service condition that can be triggered remotely by any attacker with network access to the vulnerable system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it represents a significant weakness in the cryptographic protection infrastructure of affected IBM products. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to systematically cause application crashes, leading to complete service unavailability and potential business disruption for organizations relying on these directory services. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue means that even if no sensitive data is compromised, the availability of critical directory services can be severely impacted, affecting authentication, authorization, and other directory-based operations that organizations depend upon for their IT infrastructure. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where directory services form the backbone of identity management systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the patch provided by IBM as version 8.0.14.22 or later contains the necessary fixes to properly validate TLS record layer data during SSL CBC timing attack protection mechanisms. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the updated GSKit components function correctly within the existing directory server environments without introducing compatibility issues. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring and intrusion detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be triggered through automated scanning tools that attempt to probe for cryptographic weaknesses. From a security framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 Network Denial of Service, representing a critical weakness in cryptographic implementation that requires immediate attention to maintain system integrity and service availability.