CVE-2014-6170 in WebSphere Message Broker
Summary
by MITRE
The HTTPInput node in IBM WebSphere Message Broker 7.0 before 7.0.0.8 and 8.0 before 8.0.0.6 and IBM Integration Bus 9.0 before 9.0.0.4 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by triggering a SOAP fault.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6170 affects IBM WebSphere Message Broker versions 7.0 before 7.0.0.8 and 8.0 before 8.0.0.6, as well as IBM Integration Bus 9.0 before 9.0.0.4. This security flaw resides within the HTTPInput node component, which processes incoming HTTP requests and converts them into message flows for processing within the messaging infrastructure. The vulnerability represents a sensitive information disclosure issue that occurs under specific conditions when the system encounters malformed or unexpected SOAP requests. According to CWE-200, this vulnerability falls under the category of exposing sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on these messaging platforms for business-critical operations.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the HTTPInput node's handling of SOAP fault responses when processing malformed requests. When remote attackers send specially crafted SOAP requests that trigger fault conditions within the WebSphere Message Broker, the system inadvertently includes sensitive information in the generated fault responses. This sensitive data may include internal system paths, configuration details, stack traces, or other system-specific information that could aid attackers in understanding the underlying architecture and potentially identifying additional vulnerabilities. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling practices where the system fails to properly sanitize error responses before returning them to the client, creating an information disclosure channel that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information leakage, as the disclosed information can significantly aid attackers in planning more sophisticated attacks against the affected systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains access to internal system details that could reveal network topology, software versions, and configuration parameters. This intelligence can be leveraged to craft targeted attacks against other components within the same infrastructure, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data breaches, or system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on WebSphere Message Broker for enterprise messaging, particularly those handling sensitive business data or operating in regulated environments where information disclosure represents a serious compliance concern.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by applying the vendor-provided security patches for WebSphere Message Broker 7.0.0.8, 8.0.0.6, and 9.0.0.4 releases. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper sanitization of error responses and ensuring that sensitive information is not included in SOAP fault messages returned to clients. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected systems to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of SOAP requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability aligns with technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1005 (Data from Local System), as it enables attackers to gather system information and potentially access sensitive data through the information disclosure channel. Organizations should also consider implementing Web Application Firewalls to filter malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable components, providing an additional layer of protection against exploitation attempts.