CVE-2015-1957 in WebSphere MQ
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere MQ 7.5.x before 7.5.0.6 and 8.0.x before 8.0.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via a man-in-the-middle attack, related to duplication of message data in cleartext outside the protected payload. IBM X-Force ID: 103482.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2021
IBM WebSphere MQ version 7.5.x before 7.5.0.6 and 8.0.x before 8.0.0.3 contains a critical security vulnerability that enables remote authenticated attackers to extract sensitive information through man-in-the-middle attack vectors. This flaw specifically relates to the improper handling of message data duplication outside the protected payload, creating a scenario where cleartext information becomes exposed during transmission. The vulnerability stems from insufficient cryptographic protection mechanisms that fail to maintain data confidentiality when message duplication occurs, allowing attackers to intercept and analyze sensitive information that should remain encrypted. This represents a significant weakness in the message queuing system's security architecture where the encryption boundaries are not properly maintained during message processing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the duplication of message data in cleartext format outside the protected cryptographic envelope, creating a disclosure channel for sensitive information. When authenticated users establish connections to the WebSphere MQ system, the system processes message duplication operations that inadvertently expose cleartext data segments outside the intended encrypted payload boundaries. This flaw operates at the transport layer security level where message integrity and confidentiality mechanisms are bypassed during duplication processes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects both the 7.5.x and 8.0.x release series, indicating a widespread issue within the product lineage. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in cryptographic implementation where cleartext data is exposed due to improper handling of message duplication operations, falling under CWE-310.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, business logic manipulation, and data breach scenarios. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to intercept sensitive information transmitted through the message queue system, potentially accessing authentication credentials, business data, and proprietary information. The man-in-the-middle attack vector allows adversaries to position themselves between communicating parties and extract cleartext data during message duplication operations. This vulnerability affects the fundamental security posture of organizations relying on IBM WebSphere MQ for enterprise messaging, as it undermines the confidentiality guarantees that message queuing systems are designed to provide. The attack requires only authenticated access to the system, making it particularly dangerous as legitimate users can exploit this weakness to access information beyond their authorized scope. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and defense evasion where attackers can leverage the cleartext exposure to maintain persistence and avoid detection mechanisms.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for both the 7.5.0.6 and 8.0.0.3 releases, which address the cryptographic handling of message duplication processes. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual message flow patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit the scope of authenticated users who can perform operations that trigger the vulnerable message duplication paths. Security teams should implement network traffic analysis to monitor for cleartext data exposure patterns and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this vulnerability type. The remediation process requires careful planning to ensure that patch deployment does not disrupt existing message queue operations while maintaining system availability. Regular security assessments should be conducted to verify that cryptographic protections are properly maintained during all message processing operations.