CVE-2015-2017 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
CRLF injection vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.1 through 6.1.0.47, 7.0 before 7.0.0.39, 8.0 before 8.0.0.12, and 8.5 before 8.5.5.8 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTTP headers and conduct HTTP response splitting attacks via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The CVE-2015-2017 vulnerability represents a critical CRLF injection flaw within IBM WebSphere Application Server versions spanning multiple release lines including 6.1 through 6.1.0.47, 7.0 before 7.0.0.39, 8.0 before 8.0.0.12, and 8.5 before 8.5.5.8. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-113, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of CRLF sequences in HTTP headers. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web server's processing of user-supplied URLs, allowing malicious actors to inject carriage return line feed sequences that can manipulate HTTP response headers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to perform HTTP response splitting attacks by injecting malicious CRLF sequences into URL parameters or request headers. When the web server processes these crafted inputs without proper sanitization, it inadvertently includes attacker-controlled headers in the HTTP response, creating a split response condition. This condition can be leveraged to bypass security controls, conduct session hijacking, perform cross-site scripting attacks, or manipulate web application behavior by injecting malicious content into HTTP responses. The vulnerability specifically targets the server's header processing logic where it fails to adequately validate or escape special characters that could alter the HTTP protocol flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple header injection, as it provides attackers with significant control over HTTP response behavior within the affected IBM WebSphere environments. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to manipulate cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, inject malicious JavaScript, or create persistent session manipulation conditions that could compromise user sessions and application integrity. The vulnerability's presence across multiple major release versions of WebSphere Application Server indicates a fundamental flaw in the input validation architecture that affects organizations running various server configurations. Security practitioners must consider that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploit public-facing application vulnerabilities, and can serve as a precursor for more sophisticated attacks within the attack chain.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, header sanitization mechanisms, and proper URL parameter encoding. The recommended approach involves deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block CRLF injection attempts, implementing strict input validation policies, and applying the relevant IBM security patches that address this specific vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should review their web application configurations to ensure that HTTP headers are properly escaped and validated, particularly in areas where user input is processed. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched systems to verify that the vulnerability has been effectively addressed and that no regressions have been introduced into the application functionality. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input validation controls as part of comprehensive application security strategies.