CVE-2014-4764 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 8.0.x before 8.0.0.10 and 8.5.x before 8.5.5.3, when Load Balancer for IPv4 Dispatcher is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Load Balancer crash) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4764 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 8.0.x prior to 8.0.0.10 and 8.5.x prior to 8.5.5.3 when the Load Balancer for IPv4 Dispatcher component is enabled. This represents a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by attackers to crash the load balancer functionality, thereby disrupting application availability and service continuity. The vulnerability specifically targets the dispatcher component responsible for distributing client requests across multiple application server instances in a clustered environment, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise applications that rely on high availability and load distribution mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests within the handling of network traffic and request processing within the IPv4 dispatcher module of WebSphere Application Server. When the load balancer functionality is active, the system processes incoming requests through the dispatcher component which manages the distribution logic and connection handling. Attackers can exploit unspecified vectors that likely involve malformed network packets, excessive connection requests, or crafted payload sequences that cause the dispatcher to enter an unstable state or crash entirely. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and resource management issues, aligning with CWE-119 for memory corruption and CWE-400 for unspecified resource management problems. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets the fundamental load balancing infrastructure that many enterprise applications depend upon for scalability and fault tolerance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire application availability chains within organizations using IBM WebSphere environments. When the load balancer crashes, client requests cannot be properly distributed to application server instances, resulting in complete service unavailability until the dispatcher is manually restarted or the system recovers. This affects organizations that depend on clustered application deployments where load balancing is essential for handling concurrent user requests and maintaining system performance. The vulnerability particularly impacts mission-critical applications where uptime is paramount, as the crash can occur without any visible error logs or immediate system alerts, making detection and response challenging. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability can be exploited by any remote attacker with network access to the WebSphere server, making it a significant risk for organizations with exposed application servers on public networks or in cloud environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 8.0.0.10 and 8.5.5.3, which address the root cause of the load balancer crash vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the WebSphere server's dispatcher ports, limiting exposure to unauthorized users. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in load balancer behavior or connection spikes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing redundant load balancer configurations and automated failover mechanisms can help maintain service availability even if one dispatcher instance is compromised. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, where adversaries target network infrastructure components to disrupt service availability. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious network traffic patterns associated with potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of WebSphere environments should be conducted to identify similar issues and maintain a robust security posture against similar threats.