CVE-2014-6116 in WebSphere MQ
Summary
by MITRE
The Telemetry Component in WebSphere MQ 8.0.0.1 before p000-001-L140910 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by setting the JAASConfig property in an MQTT client configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6116 affects IBM WebSphere MQ version 8.0.0.1 prior to fix pack p000-001-L140910, specifically within the Telemetry Component that handles MQTT client communications. This flaw represents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that undermines the security posture of messaging systems relying on WebSphere MQ for message broker services. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of the JAASConfig property within MQTT client configurations, allowing malicious actors to circumvent the standard authentication mechanisms that should validate client credentials before granting access to message queues and related services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an MQTT client establishes a connection to the WebSphere MQ server and sets the JAASConfig property in its configuration parameters. This property typically defines the Java Authentication and Authorization Service configuration used to authenticate clients, but in the affected versions, the system fails to properly validate or enforce these authentication settings. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specially configured MQTT client connections that either omit proper authentication parameters or provide malformed JAAS configurations, thereby allowing unauthorized access to the messaging infrastructure. This vulnerability falls under CWE-287 which specifically addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, making it particularly dangerous as it directly compromises the foundational security principle of access control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, message interception, and service disruption within enterprise messaging environments. Organizations using WebSphere MQ for mission-critical communications face significant risk when this vulnerability remains unpatched, as attackers can potentially read sensitive messages, inject malicious payloads into message queues, or even disrupt message flow between applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets the telemetry component, which often operates with elevated privileges and may have access to comprehensive system information. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for unauthorized access, as the bypass occurs through manipulation of legitimate authentication configuration parameters rather than brute force or credential theft.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided fix pack p000-001-L140910 that addresses the JAASConfig property handling in the Telemetry Component. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to WebSphere MQ servers, particularly restricting direct MQTT access from untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in MQTT client connections, especially those with malformed or absent authentication parameters. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all MQTT client configurations to identify systems potentially vulnerable to this specific bypass mechanism. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper authentication configuration management and highlights the need for thorough testing of security features in messaging infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security such as network access controls, message encryption, and regular security assessments of their messaging systems to prevent exploitation of similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities.