CVE-2015-0189 in WebSphere MQ
Summary
by MITRE
The cluster repository manager in IBM WebSphere MQ 7.5 before 7.5.0.5 and 8.0 before 8.0.0.2 allows remote authenticated administrators to cause a denial of service (memory overwrite and daemon outage) by triggering multiple transmit-queue records.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0189 affects IBM WebSphere MQ cluster repository manager components, specifically targeting versions 7.5 prior to 7.5.0.5 and 8.0 prior to 8.0.0.2. This issue represents a significant security flaw that enables remote authenticated administrators to disrupt system operations through carefully crafted malicious actions. The vulnerability operates within the cluster repository manager functionality that handles transmit-queue records, which are essential components for message routing and distribution across distributed messaging environments. The flaw manifests when multiple transmit-queue records are triggered simultaneously, creating a cascading effect that leads to system instability and operational disruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a memory overwrite condition that occurs when the cluster repository manager processes multiple transmit-queue records concurrently. This memory corruption results from inadequate input validation and resource management within the messaging queue processing logic. The flaw specifically targets the internal memory structures used to maintain queue state information and transmission records, causing buffer overflows or memory corruption that ultimately leads to daemon process termination. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though it manifests in a more complex memory management scenario typical of enterprise messaging systems. The operational impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially compromise the integrity of message delivery within the cluster environment.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on IBM WebSphere MQ for critical messaging infrastructure. When exploited, the vulnerability causes daemon outages that can disrupt message flow between distributed systems, potentially leading to data loss or service interruption across dependent applications. The memory overwrite condition can cause the messaging daemon to crash repeatedly, requiring manual intervention and system restarts that may result in extended downtime. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations with high-volume message processing environments where cluster repository manager functionality is heavily utilized. The impact extends to business continuity as message queues become unavailable, affecting downstream applications that depend on reliable message delivery. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, where adversaries exploit system weaknesses to disrupt service availability.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and hotfixes that address the memory management issues within the cluster repository manager. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect abnormal patterns in transmit-queue record processing that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the number of authenticated administrators who can trigger the vulnerable functionality. Additionally, organizations should maintain robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize the impact of potential daemon outages. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in enterprise messaging systems, particularly when handling concurrent operations that manipulate shared memory structures. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption issues in other enterprise messaging components and ensure comprehensive protection against similar threats.