CVE-2015-0118 in WebSphere Message Broker Toolkit
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Message Broker Toolkit 7 before 7007 IF2 and 8 before 8005 IF1 and Integration Toolkit 9 before 9003 IF1 are distributed with MQ client JAR files that support only weak TLS ciphers, which might make it easier for remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network during a connection to an Integration Bus node.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0118 affects IBM WebSphere Message Broker Toolkit versions 7.0.0.7 and earlier, 8.0.0.5 and earlier, and 9.0.0.3 and earlier. This issue stems from the inclusion of MQ client JAR files that are configured to support only weak TLS ciphers, creating a significant security weakness in communication protocols. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted between components within the integration environment.
The technical flaw manifests in the cryptographic configuration of the MQ client libraries bundled with these WebSphere Message Broker versions. These libraries are designed to establish secure connections using Transport Layer Security but are restricted to employing weak cipher suites that are vulnerable to modern cryptographic attacks. The use of weak TLS ciphers creates an attack surface that allows adversaries to perform man-in-the-middle attacks or network sniffing operations to intercept and potentially decrypt sensitive information transmitted over the network. This weakness is categorized under CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through network interception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it affects the fundamental security posture of integration environments that rely on WebSphere Message Broker for enterprise messaging. When attackers successfully exploit this weakness, they can potentially access sensitive business data, authentication credentials, or proprietary information flowing through the integration bus nodes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where integration buses handle critical data flows between different systems and applications. Organizations may experience compliance violations, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage if sensitive information is compromised through these weak cryptographic connections.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to update the affected IBM WebSphere Message Broker Toolkit versions to the patched releases. Organizations should prioritize updating to the specific maintenance fixes mentioned in the CVE description, which include versions 7.0.0.7 IF2, 8.0.0.5 IF1, and 9.0.0.3 IF1. Additionally, network administrators should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The implementation of strong TLS configurations, including the enforcement of modern cipher suites such as those supporting AES-256 encryption and SHA-256 hashing, should be enforced across all integration components. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other components within their integration infrastructure that might be similarly affected by weak cryptographic implementations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date cryptographic libraries and the necessity of implementing robust security controls in enterprise integration environments where data confidentiality is paramount.