CVE-2014-3070 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
The addFileRegistryAccount Virtual Member Manager (VMM) SPI Admin Task in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 8.0.x before 8.0.0.10 and 8.5.x before 8.5.5.3 does not properly create accounts, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3070 resides within IBM WebSphere Application Server's Virtual Member Manager component, specifically affecting the addFileRegistryAccount SPI Admin Task functionality. This issue impacts WebSphere Application Server versions 8.0.x prior to 8.0.0.10 and 8.5.x prior to 8.5.5.3, representing a critical access control weakness that undermines the security posture of affected systems. The flaw manifests in the improper creation of accounts within the file registry, creating potential pathways for unauthorized access that could compromise the entire application server environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and authorization checks during the account creation process within the Virtual Member Manager's SPI administrative interface. When the addFileRegistryAccount task executes, it fails to properly enforce access controls that should restrict who can create or modify user accounts within the file-based registry. This misconfiguration allows remote attackers to exploit unspecified vectors that bypass the intended security boundaries, potentially enabling them to create accounts with elevated privileges or access restricted system resources. The vulnerability operates at the administrative task level, making it particularly dangerous as it directly affects the core identity management functionality of the application server.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3070 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege that IBM WebSphere Application Server relies upon for security. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could potentially establish persistent access to the application server environment, manipulate user permissions, or escalate their privileges to gain administrative control over the entire WebSphere instance. This weakness particularly affects organizations that depend on WebSphere's file registry for user management, as it undermines the trust model that should protect against unauthorized modifications to the user authentication system. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation can occur from any network location without requiring physical access or prior authentication, making it especially concerning for enterprise environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for WebSphere Application Server 8.0.0.10 and 8.5.5.3, which address the account creation validation flaws. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be enforced to limit access to administrative interfaces, while monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized account creation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential stuffing attacks that could leverage this weakness. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their WebSphere deployments to identify any other potential access control vulnerabilities that could be exploited in conjunction with this flaw, ensuring that all administrative interfaces maintain proper authentication and authorization boundaries.