CVE-2016-2923 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 8.5 through 8.5.5.9 Liberty before Liberty Fix Pack 16.0.0.2 does not include the HTTPOnly flag in a Set-Cookie header for an unspecified JAX-RS API cookie, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information via script access to this cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2019
IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty profile versions 8.5 through 8.5.5.9 contain a critical security flaw in their handling of session cookies that directly violates established web security best practices. This vulnerability specifically affects the JAX-RS API implementation where session cookies are generated without the HTTPOnly flag in the Set-Cookie header. The absence of this critical security attribute creates a significant attack surface that enables cross-site scripting (XSS) exploits to access sensitive session information through client-side script execution. The vulnerability falls under CWE-1004 which specifically addresses insecure cookie flags and represents a fundamental failure in secure cookie implementation practices.
The technical nature of this flaw lies in the improper cookie attribute configuration within the Liberty profile's web container implementation. When a web application generates session cookies through the JAX-RS API, the server fails to append the HTTPOnly flag to the Set-Cookie header response. This omission allows malicious scripts executed within the same domain to access the cookie value through JavaScript APIs such as document.cookie, thereby compromising session integrity and potentially enabling session hijacking attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core application server functionality rather than being an application-specific issue, making it a widespread concern across all applications deployed on affected Liberty profile versions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it creates a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to user sessions. Attackers can leverage this weakness in conjunction with XSS vulnerabilities to steal session tokens, impersonate legitimate users, and potentially access sensitive data or perform unauthorized transactions. This creates a significant risk for enterprise applications that rely on session-based authentication mechanisms, as the compromised session tokens can provide attackers with extended access privileges within the application environment. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security posture of the application server and undermines the trust model that session management is designed to maintain.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the available Liberty Fix Pack 16.0.0.2 which addresses the specific cookie attribute implementation issue. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any applications that may be vulnerable and ensure proper cookie attribute configuration across all web applications. The mitigation strategy should include monitoring for any unauthorized access attempts and implementing additional security controls such as secure cookie flags, proper input validation, and regular security testing. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential access through malicious file execution and demonstrates how insecure cookie implementation can enable broader attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and additional monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific weakness in their web application server infrastructure.