CVE-2012-5758 in WebSphere DataPower XC10
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 does not require authentication for an unspecified interface, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (process exit) via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5758 affects the IBM WebSphere DataPower XC10 Appliance across specific firmware versions, representing a critical security flaw in enterprise data processing infrastructure. This vulnerability manifests through an authentication bypass issue where an unspecified administrative or management interface lacks proper access controls, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors. The affected versions span from 2.0.0.0 through 2.0.0.3 and 2.1.0.0 through 2.1.0.2, indicating a targeted scope within the appliance's software lifecycle that requires immediate attention from security administrators.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the appliance's network interface stack, allowing unauthorized remote access to critical system functions. When attackers exploit this weakness, they can trigger process termination events that result in denial of service conditions, effectively disrupting the appliance's ability to process data and maintain network connectivity. This flaw operates at the network protocol level where the system fails to properly validate incoming requests before executing privileged operations, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution or system destabilization. The unspecified nature of the affected interface suggests either incomplete disclosure by the vendor or a complex internal architecture that makes precise identification challenging for security researchers.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on DataPower appliances for API management, security policy enforcement, and data processing tasks. The remote exploitation capability means attackers can compromise systems without physical access or legitimate credentials, potentially leading to extended service outages and data processing interruptions. The denial of service attack vector specifically targets system stability by causing process exits that require manual intervention to restore normal operation, resulting in both immediate operational disruption and potential cascading effects on dependent systems. Organizations may experience service degradation, security policy bypasses, and increased attack surface exposure that could facilitate further compromise of the broader network infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit known vulnerabilities and T1499 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates to patched versions, network segmentation to isolate affected appliances, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Security teams must also consider implementing additional access controls through network firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and continuous monitoring protocols to detect exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires careful planning due to the critical nature of DataPower appliances in enterprise environments, ensuring that updates do not disrupt existing services while addressing the authentication bypass vulnerability that could lead to complete system compromise and service interruption.