CVE-2016-2960 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 7.x before 7.0.0.43, 8.0.0.x before 8.0.0.13, 8.5.0.x before 8.5.5.10, 8.5.0.x and 16.0.0.x Liberty before Liberty Fix Pack 16.0.0.3, and 9.0.0.x before 9.0.0.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted SIP messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2022
IBM WebSphere Application Server represents a critical component in enterprise application deployment environments where the vulnerability described in CVE-2016-2960 manifests as a remote denial of service condition through manipulation of Session Initiation Protocol messages. This vulnerability affects multiple versions across the WebSphere Application Server product line including the 7.x, 8.0.0.x, 8.5.0.x, 16.0.0.x Liberty profile, and 9.0.0.x series, indicating a widespread impact across the platform's lifecycle. The technical flaw resides in the server's insufficient validation of Session Initiation Protocol messages, which creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can craft specific SIP packets designed to trigger abnormal termination of server processes or resource exhaustion. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-400, which categorizes weaknesses related to resource exhaustion and improper input validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The operational impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the vulnerability can potentially disrupt critical business applications that rely on WebSphere's middleware capabilities, affecting enterprise communication systems and potentially cascading into broader infrastructure degradation. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage the crafted SIP messages to consume excessive system resources or trigger memory corruption conditions that result in complete service unavailability. The attack vector requires remote execution capability without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the WebSphere server is exposed to untrusted networks or internet-facing interfaces. Organizations utilizing these affected versions face significant risk of operational disruption, especially in mission-critical deployments where continuous availability is paramount. The vulnerability's presence in the Liberty profile versions further amplifies the risk as this lightweight runtime is commonly deployed in cloud and microservices architectures. From a security control perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and resource management in middleware components, particularly those handling real-time communication protocols. The fix implementations for this vulnerability typically involve applying specific maintenance fixes or upgrade paths to the affected versions, with IBM releasing patches that strengthen SIP message validation and implement more robust resource allocation controls. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of affected systems and implement network segmentation controls to limit exposure. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of continuous security monitoring and vulnerability assessment practices, particularly for enterprise middleware platforms that serve as foundational components for business-critical applications. Proper application of security patches and adherence to vendor advisories becomes essential for maintaining operational resilience against such remote exploitation vectors. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the complex security considerations inherent in real-time communication systems and the critical need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. The impact extends beyond immediate service disruption to include potential compliance implications and business continuity concerns for organizations relying on WebSphere Application Server for their enterprise communication infrastructure.