CVE-2014-8890 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile 8.5.x before 8.5.5.4 allows remote attackers to gain privileges by leveraging the combination of a servlet s deployment descriptor security constraints and ServletSecurity annotations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8890 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile version 8.5.x prior to 8.5.5.4, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that could enable remote attackers to escalate privileges within affected systems. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of security constraints within the application server's servlet deployment descriptor and ServletSecurity annotations, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to protected resources. The flaw exists in the server's interpretation and enforcement of security policies, specifically when multiple security mechanisms are applied simultaneously, leading to potential privilege escalation and unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a complex interaction between two distinct security mechanisms within the WebSphere Liberty Profile framework. When servlet deployment descriptors contain security constraints and ServletSecurity annotations are applied to the same resources, the server fails to properly evaluate and enforce the combined security requirements. This misconfiguration allows attackers to bypass intended access controls by exploiting the way the application server processes these overlapping security declarations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the server's security subsystem does not adequately merge or validate the security constraints defined in both the deployment descriptor and the annotations, creating a gap in the authorization framework.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on IBM WebSphere Liberty Profile for their application hosting needs. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to gain elevated privileges without requiring valid authentication credentials, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to perform administrative functions, modify critical application data, or access sensitive information stored within the application server environment. Organizations with web applications deployed on affected Liberty Profile versions face potential exposure to data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations that could result in substantial financial and reputational damage.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and represents a specific instance of inadequate privilege management within enterprise application servers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and credential access methods, as attackers can leverage the flaw to move laterally within affected systems and potentially gain administrative control. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of IBM's security patches and updates, while also implementing additional monitoring and access control measures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across all WebSphere Liberty Profile installations to identify and remediate similar configuration issues that could create analogous security gaps.