CVE-2012-5759 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 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended administrative-role requirements and perform arbitrary JMX operations via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5759 affects the IBM WebSphere DataPower XC10 Appliance across specific firmware versions, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the appliance's security model. This issue impacts versions 2.0.0.0 through 2.0.0.3 and 2.1.0.0 through 2.1.0.2, where authenticated users can exploit a weakness in the access control mechanisms to execute unauthorized JMX operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of administrative privileges within the appliance's management interface, allowing attackers who have established legitimate authentication credentials to escalate their privileges and access restricted administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of JMX (Java Management Extensions) operations that are typically restricted to privileged administrative users. JMX provides monitoring and management capabilities for Java applications, and in this context, the DataPower appliance exposes these management interfaces through its web-based administration console. The flaw enables authenticated users to bypass the normal role-based access control checks that should prevent non-administrative users from executing sensitive administrative commands. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and undermines the appliance's security architecture.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations deploying DataPower appliances, as it allows attackers to perform arbitrary administrative operations without proper authorization. The ability to execute unauthorized JMX operations could enable attackers to modify appliance configurations, access sensitive data, disable security features, or potentially establish persistent access to the network infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that an authenticated user could exploit this vulnerability from any location with network access to the appliance, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative credentials might be compromised or where users have legitimate access but could be coerced into providing credentials.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and specifically demonstrates weaknesses in access control mechanisms within enterprise security appliances. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers could use the unauthorized JMX operations to modify appliance behavior or hide their activities within the network infrastructure. Organizations utilizing DataPower appliances should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where these appliances serve as critical network security devices.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates to versions that address the authorization bypass vulnerability, as IBM would have released patches to correct the access control implementation. Network segmentation and monitoring of JMX traffic should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict credential management policies and implement multi-factor authentication where possible. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and timely patch management for enterprise security appliances, as these devices often serve as primary targets for attackers seeking to gain access to network infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls to limit direct access to administrative interfaces and establish monitoring procedures for unusual administrative activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.