CVE-2014-0891 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 7.0.x before 7.0.0.33, 8.0.x before 8.0.0.9, and 8.5.x before 8.5.5.2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by leveraging incorrect request handling by the (1) Proxy or (2) ODR server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0891 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server versions prior to specific patch levels, representing a significant information disclosure weakness that could enable remote attackers to extract sensitive data from affected systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the proxy and odr server components within the WebSphere infrastructure, which are critical for handling external requests and managing application communication. The flaw stems from improper request handling mechanisms that fail to adequately validate or sanitize incoming network traffic, creating opportunities for unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the incorrect processing of requests within the WebSphere server's proxy and odr components, where the system fails to properly validate the authenticity and integrity of incoming requests. This misconfiguration allows attackers to craft malicious requests that bypass normal access controls and authentication mechanisms, potentially exposing sensitive information such as system configurations, user credentials, application data, or internal network structures. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where WebSphere servers are exposed to untrusted networks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on IBM WebSphere Application Server for their enterprise applications. The information disclosure could lead to compromise of sensitive business data, exposure of system architecture details that aid in further attacks, and potential escalation to more critical vulnerabilities. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gather intelligence about the target environment, identify other potential attack vectors, or extract data that could be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or competitive espionage. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can potentially target these systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or local network presence.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 7.0.0.33, 8.0.0.9, and 8.5.5.2, which address the incorrect request handling mechanisms. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to WebSphere servers, particularly the proxy and odr components, limiting exposure to untrusted networks. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their WebSphere environments to identify any additional vulnerabilities that may be present. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper information disclosure, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and reconnaissance activities. Regular monitoring and logging of web server requests should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, and incident response procedures should be updated to address information disclosure scenarios.