CVE-2012-2201 in WebSphere MQ
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2022
IBM WebSphere MQ 7.1 is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by an error when handling user ids. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to bypass the security configuration setup on a SVRCONN channel and flood the queue manager.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2022
IBM WebSphere MQ version 7.1 contains a critical denial of service vulnerability that stems from improper handling of user identifiers during channel communication processes. This weakness exists within the server connection channel (SVRCONN) functionality where the system fails to properly validate or process user credentials, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects the queue manager's ability to maintain proper security boundaries and authentication controls, allowing unauthorized access attempts that can overwhelm system resources.
The technical flaw manifests when an attacker sends malformed or specially crafted user identification data to the queue manager through SVRCONN channels. This improper input handling causes the system to enter an unstable state where it cannot properly process legitimate authentication requests while simultaneously being flooded with malicious connection attempts. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level where user credentials are parsed and validated, creating a condition where the system becomes unresponsive to legitimate users while remaining vulnerable to continued attack traffic.
This vulnerability enables remote attackers to bypass established security configurations that are meant to control access to the queue manager services. The attack vector allows malicious actors to establish multiple connection attempts without proper authentication, effectively flooding the queue manager with connection requests that consume system resources. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the vulnerability can be leveraged to exhaust memory and processing capabilities, potentially causing complete system unavailability.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe as it undermines the fundamental security model of IBM WebSphere MQ. Organizations relying on this messaging system face potential disruption of critical business processes that depend on reliable message queuing services. The vulnerability can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or specialized knowledge, making it particularly dangerous for environments where security configurations are not properly monitored or patched. This weakness directly impacts the availability and integrity of message processing workflows that many enterprise applications depend upon for operational continuity.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application of IBM's security patches and updates specifically addressing this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict direct access to SVRCONN channels from untrusted networks. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual connection patterns and authentication failures that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of rate limiting and connection throttling mechanisms can help prevent resource exhaustion attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers and regularly reviewing security configurations to ensure proper channel access controls remain in place. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Input Validation and CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for denial of service attacks.