CVE-2014-6199 in Sterling File Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
The HTTP Server Adapter in IBM Sterling B2B Integrator 5.1 and 5.2.x and Sterling File Gateway 2.1 and 2.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (connection-slot exhaustion) via a crafted HTTP request.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6199 resides within the HTTP Server Adapter component of IBM Sterling B2B Integrator versions 5.1 and 5.2.x, as well as Sterling File Gateway versions 2.1 and 2.2. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to exploit connection management mechanisms and exhaust available connection slots, ultimately leading to service disruption. The vulnerability specifically targets the HTTP server's ability to handle incoming requests and maintain active connections within the system's resource constraints.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and connection handling within the HTTP Server Adapter module. When a specially crafted HTTP request is sent to the affected system, it triggers a condition where connection slots are consumed without proper cleanup or timeout mechanisms. This allows an attacker to continuously establish new connections while leaving existing ones in a half-open state, effectively depleting the available connection pool. The flaw operates at the protocol level where HTTP requests are processed and connection management is handled, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring authentication or prior access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader business continuity concerns for organizations relying on these IBM integration platforms. Connection-slot exhaustion can render the entire system unusable for legitimate business transactions, potentially causing significant financial losses and operational delays in B2B integrations. The attack can be executed remotely, meaning that any system exposed to the internet or accessible network segments becomes vulnerable to exploitation. Organizations may experience cascading effects where the denial of service impacts downstream systems that depend on the integrator platform for data exchange and business process automation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6199 should include immediate implementation of connection rate limiting and timeout configurations within the HTTP Server Adapter settings. System administrators should configure proper connection pooling parameters to prevent unlimited connection establishment and implement network-level firewalls to restrict access to the affected HTTP endpoints. IBM released specific patches and updates for the affected versions that address the connection handling logic and implement proper resource cleanup mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious connection patterns and establish baseline network behavior to quickly identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which classifies it as an Uncontrolled Resource Consumption weakness, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, highlighting the importance of proper resource management and connection lifecycle handling in enterprise integration platforms.