CVE-2016-0306 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 7.0 before 7.0.0.41, 8.0 before 8.0.0.13, and 8.5 before 8.5.5.10, when FIPS 140-2 is enabled, misconfigures TLS, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0306 represents a critical security flaw in IBM WebSphere Application Server versions prior to specific patch levels. This issue specifically manifests when the application server operates with FIPS 140-2 compliance enabled, creating a scenario where the TLS configuration becomes fundamentally compromised. The vulnerability falls under the category of cryptographic weakness and misconfiguration, with direct implications for secure communication protocols within enterprise web applications. Organizations utilizing IBM WebSphere Application Server in regulated environments where FIPS compliance is mandatory are particularly at risk, as the security controls designed to enforce cryptographic standards inadvertently create new attack vectors.
The technical flaw stems from how IBM WebSphere Application Server handles TLS protocol configuration when FIPS 140-2 mode is activated. This misconfiguration allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks that can intercept and potentially decrypt sensitive data transmitted between clients and the application server. The vulnerability specifically affects three major version streams: WebSphere Application Server 7.0 prior to 7.0.0.41, 8.0 prior to 8.0.0.13, and 8.5 prior to 8.5.5.10. The issue is particularly concerning because FIPS 140-2 compliance is often required in government and regulated industry environments, making the vulnerability exploitable in high-security contexts where cryptographic controls are paramount. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the original description indicate that the attack surface encompasses multiple potential methods of exploitation, including protocol downgrade attacks and certificate validation bypasses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it undermines the fundamental security assurances that organizations rely upon when implementing FIPS-compliant systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness to obtain sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, financial information, and proprietary business data that flows through the vulnerable WebSphere instances. The vulnerability creates a false sense of security for organizations that believe their FIPS 140-2 compliance provides robust cryptographic protection, when in reality the implementation contains a critical flaw that renders the security controls ineffective. This situation particularly affects financial institutions, government agencies, and other organizations handling sensitive data where compliance with cryptographic standards is mandatory and where the integrity of communications is critical to business operations.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches for each affected version stream to remediate this vulnerability. The patches address the specific TLS misconfiguration issues that occur when FIPS 140-2 mode is enabled, ensuring that cryptographic protocols function correctly and maintain their intended security properties. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their WebSphere Application Server deployments to identify all affected instances and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures for handling potential security breaches. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK framework category T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential access through man-in-the-middle attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs should include verification of FIPS 140-2 compliance configurations to prevent similar issues from arising in other cryptographic implementations.