CVE-2012-5756 in WebSphere DataPower
Summary
by MITRE
The IBM WebSphere DataPower XC10 Appliance 2.0.0.0 through 2.0.0.3 and 2.1.0.0 through 2.1.0.2, when a collective configuration is enabled, has a single secret key that is shared across different customers installations, which allows remote attackers to spoof a container server by (1) sniffing the network to locate a cleartext transmission of this key or (2) leveraging knowledge of this key from another installation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5756 affects IBM WebSphere DataPower XC10 Appliances running specific firmware versions, creating a critical security weakness in multi-tenant environments where collective configurations are enabled. This flaw represents a fundamental design issue in the appliance's authentication mechanism, where a single shared secret key is distributed across multiple customer installations rather than implementing unique cryptographic identifiers for each tenant. The vulnerability operates at the network communication layer and specifically targets the container server authentication process, making it particularly dangerous in shared infrastructure deployments where isolation between customers is expected.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the use of a static, predictable secret key that remains consistent across different appliance installations when collective configuration features are active. This design flaw allows attackers to exploit two primary attack vectors that align with the attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and defense evasion tactics. The first vector involves passive network monitoring where attackers can capture cleartext transmissions of the shared key during normal network operations, while the second vector leverages information disclosure from one installation to compromise others. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-259, which addresses the use of hard-coded passwords or keys, and CWE-310, which covers cryptographic issues related to key management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating potential for cross-tenant compromise in multi-tenant data center environments. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they can impersonate legitimate container servers and potentially gain access to sensitive data belonging to other customers sharing the same infrastructure. This compromises the fundamental security isolation that organizations expect from their data protection systems and could result in significant data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using collective configuration features for centralized management of multiple DataPower appliances, as these deployments inherently increase the attack surface by sharing authentication credentials across multiple installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5756 require immediate implementation of firmware updates from IBM that address the shared key issue through proper key management and unique identifier generation for each appliance installation. Organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized key transmission attempts, while also considering the deployment of network intrusion detection systems to identify potential credential harvesting activities. The remediation process should include thorough security assessments of existing collective configurations to identify installations that may be vulnerable, and organizations should establish proper key rotation procedures for any remaining legacy systems. Additionally, implementing network encryption protocols and mandatory authentication mechanisms can help reduce the attack surface, while regular security audits should verify that unique cryptographic identifiers are properly configured across all appliance installations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future deployments.