CVE-2013-5446 in WebSphere DataPower XC10
Summary
by MITRE
The console on IBM WebSphere DataPower XC10 appliances 2.1.0 and 2.5.0 does not properly process logoff actions, which has unspecified impact and remote attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5446 affects IBM WebSphere DataPower XC10 appliances running firmware versions 2.1.0 and 2.5.0, specifically targeting the console's handling of logoff operations. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the authentication and session management mechanisms of the appliance's administrative interface. The vulnerability resides in the console's improper processing of logoff actions, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by remote adversaries to gain unauthorized access to the system. The unspecified impact suggests that the flaw could potentially allow attackers to maintain persistent access or escalate privileges within the appliance's administrative environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session management, and represents a failure in proper session termination mechanisms. When users attempt to log off from the DataPower appliance console, the system fails to properly invalidate the session or terminate the administrative session, leaving the possibility open for unauthorized access. This flaw is particularly concerning because it affects the core authentication and authorization functionality of the appliance's web-based management interface. The vulnerability enables attackers to exploit the console's session handling mechanisms, potentially allowing them to maintain access to the appliance even after legitimate users have logged off, creating a persistent security risk.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on DataPower appliances for API management, security gateways, and data processing tasks. The remote attack vectors available through this flaw mean that adversaries could exploit the vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication credentials. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers could potentially gain administrative control over critical infrastructure components, leading to data breaches, service disruption, or unauthorized modification of security policies. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as the appliance may be used to process sensitive data flows, making the compromise of its administrative interface a severe operational risk.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for the affected firmware versions, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the appliance's management interfaces, and monitoring for suspicious login and logout activities. The remediation process should involve verifying the appliance's firmware version and ensuring that all administrative access points are properly secured through network access controls and authentication mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as two-factor authentication for administrative access, regular security assessments of the appliance configuration, and comprehensive logging of all administrative activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper session management practices in enterprise security infrastructure, aligning with ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through improper session handling.