CVE-2016-3040 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) Liberty, as used in IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager (ISPIM) Virtual Appliance 2.x before 2.0.2 FP8, allows remote authenticated users to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2019
IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty version 2.0.2 FP8 and earlier contains a vulnerability that affects IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager Virtual Appliance 2.x installations. This flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to manipulate web application behavior through unspecified vectors that ultimately result in open redirect vulnerabilities. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web application framework, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that redirect legitimate users to attacker-controlled domains. The technical implementation appears to involve improper handling of redirect parameters or URL validation mechanisms within the Liberty profile's web container. Attackers can leverage this weakness to construct phishing pages that appear legitimate to users, potentially capturing credentials or sensitive information from authenticated sessions. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability where applications fail to validate that redirect targets are within expected domains or contexts. The impact extends beyond simple redirection as it enables sophisticated social engineering attacks that can compromise user trust and system security. The vulnerability affects authenticated users who interact with the ISPIM virtual appliance, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where privileged accounts are targeted. Attackers can exploit this weakness to redirect users from legitimate management interfaces to malicious sites that mimic the authentic application interface, creating a high-risk scenario for credential theft and privilege escalation. The attack vector requires authentication but does not require elevated privileges, making it accessible to users with basic access rights. This vulnerability demonstrates a critical weakness in the web application's security architecture where proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms are insufficiently implemented. Organizations using affected versions of the ISPIM virtual appliance should consider implementing network-level controls to prevent access to known malicious domains and ensure proper URL validation within the application layer. The weakness also highlights the importance of regular security updates and patch management for application server components, particularly those running in virtualized environments where multiple services may be exposed. This vulnerability type falls under the ATT&CK technique T1566 Phishing, where attackers leverage web application flaws to redirect users to malicious sites. The security implications extend to potential data breaches and unauthorized access to privileged accounts within the managed environment. Proper mitigation requires both immediate patching of the affected Liberty profile and implementation of additional security controls such as web application firewalls and strict URL validation policies. The vulnerability underscores the importance of security testing for web applications, particularly those handling sensitive privileged information, and demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can lead to significant security risks in enterprise environments.