CVE-2014-0964 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.1.0.0 through 6.1.0.47 and 6.0.2.0 through 6.0.2.43 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted TLS traffic, as demonstrated by traffic from a CVE-2014-0160 vulnerability-assessment tool.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2024
IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 6.1.0.0 through 6.1.0.47 and 6.0.2.0 through 6.0.2.43 contain a vulnerability that enables remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition through carefully crafted TLS traffic. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the application server processes malformed TLS handshake messages, leading to unexpected behavior that can result in service disruption. The flaw is particularly concerning as it can be exploited using traffic patterns that resemble those generated by the CVE-2014-0160 vulnerability assessment tool, which is commonly used to test for the OpenSSL heartbleed vulnerability. This demonstrates how a seemingly unrelated security testing tool can be repurposed to exploit this specific denial of service weakness in the IBM WebSphere platform.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the TLS implementation of the WebSphere Application Server. When processing TLS handshake messages, the server fails to properly validate the structure and content of incoming TLS records, allowing maliciously crafted data to cause the application server to crash or enter an unstable state. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, Input Validation, as the system does not adequately validate the boundaries and structure of TLS protocol data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the transport layer protocol level, where the application server's TLS stack handles incoming connections from clients, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can establish a TLS connection to the affected server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can lead to significant business continuity issues for organizations relying on IBM WebSphere Application Server for critical applications. When exploited, the denial of service condition can cause the application server to become unresponsive, requiring manual intervention to restart the service and potentially resulting in extended downtime. This vulnerability affects organizations that have not applied the necessary security patches, particularly those with legacy systems still running older versions of WebSphere Application Server. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it does not require authentication or specialized privileges, making it accessible to any remote attacker with network connectivity to the affected server.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the relevant security patches provided by IBM to address the vulnerability in their WebSphere Application Server installations. The patch addresses the underlying TLS processing logic to properly validate incoming TLS handshake messages and prevent malformed data from causing service disruption. Additionally, network-level mitigations such as implementing firewalls or intrusion prevention systems that can detect and block suspicious TLS traffic patterns may provide additional protection. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect unusual patterns of TLS connection attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, and organizations should review their incident response procedures to ensure appropriate handling of such service disruption events. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all application server platforms, particularly those that handle sensitive business applications and require high availability.