CVE-2013-4035 in Sterling Connect
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for OpenVMS 3.4.00, 3.4.01, 3.5.00, 3.6.0, and 3.6.0.1 allow remote attackers to have unspecified impact by leveraging failure to reject client requests for an unencrypted session when used as the server in a TCP/IP session and configured for SSL encryption with the client. IBM X-Force ID: 86138.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2023
This vulnerability exists in IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for OpenVMS versions 3.4.00 through 3.6.0.1 where the system fails to properly validate client requests for unencrypted sessions when operating as a TCP/IP server configured for SSL encryption. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows remote attackers to potentially bypass encryption controls and establish insecure connections despite the system being configured to require SSL encryption. This issue falls under the category of improper authentication or encryption handling as classified by CWE-310. The vulnerability stems from the server's inability to reject client requests that attempt to establish unencrypted connections when SSL is enabled, creating a potential attack vector for man-in-the-middle scenarios and data interception.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the SSL/TLS handshake level where the server accepts client requests without properly validating that the connection should be encrypted. When a client connects to a server configured for SSL encryption but attempts to establish an unencrypted session, the system should reject such requests and enforce the configured encryption requirements. However, this flaw allows the system to accept and process these requests, potentially leading to the exposure of sensitive data that should have been protected through encryption. This represents a failure in the secure communication protocol implementation and violates the principle of least privilege by allowing unauthorized connection methods. The vulnerability can be exploited through network-based attacks where an attacker can manipulate the connection establishment process to downgrade encryption or bypass security controls entirely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted through the Connect:Direct system. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept sensitive information, potentially gaining access to business-critical data that should remain encrypted during transmission. The vulnerability affects organizations using IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for OpenVMS in environments where security is paramount, such as financial services, healthcare, and government sectors where data protection is mandatory. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description indicates that the consequences could range from data leakage to complete system compromise depending on the specific implementation and network configuration. This vulnerability directly violates security standards such as those outlined in the NIST SP 800-53 security controls and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through network-based attacks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for OpenVMS, configuring proper SSL/TLS settings to enforce encrypted connections, and implementing network-level controls to monitor and block unauthorized connection attempts. System administrators should review existing configurations to ensure that SSL encryption is properly enforced and that the system rejects unencrypted connection requests. Additional security measures include implementing network segmentation, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious connection patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper protocol enforcement and the need for robust validation mechanisms in secure communication systems. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate-based authentication and additional layers of security to protect against similar issues in other network services. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper configuration management in enterprise environments where data protection is essential.