CVE-2015-0175 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 8.5 Liberty Profile before 8.5.5.5 does not properly implement authData elements, which allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0175 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile version 8.5.5.4 and earlier, representing a critical authentication flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise applications relying on this middleware platform. This issue stems from improper implementation of authData elements within the server configuration, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges within the application environment. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms that govern user access control and credential management, potentially allowing authenticated users to bypass intended security restrictions and gain elevated privileges.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient validation and processing of authentication data elements within the Liberty Profile runtime environment. When authData elements are configured in the server configuration files, the system fails to properly enforce authorization boundaries and access controls that should prevent privilege escalation. This improper implementation creates a condition where authenticated users can exploit the flawed authentication handling to access resources or perform actions beyond their intended permissions. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability can be triggered through various attack paths, making it particularly challenging to defend against and potentially exploitable in multiple scenarios.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing IBM WebSphere Liberty Profile for their application hosting needs. The privilege escalation capability allows attackers who have already gained initial access to potentially elevate their privileges to administrative levels, thereby compromising the entire application environment. This could result in unauthorized data access, modification of critical application components, complete system compromise, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The impact extends beyond individual application security to potentially affect the broader enterprise security posture, as compromised applications may serve as entry points for further attacks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a specific implementation weakness in the authentication subsystem of the Liberty Profile. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and potentially to initial access vectors if attackers can leverage it to move laterally within the network. Organizations should consider implementing immediate mitigations including upgrading to IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile version 8.5.5.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this authentication flaw. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of the application server configurations to ensure proper implementation of access control mechanisms.