CVE-2017-1194 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 is vulnerable to cross-site request forgery which could allow an attacker to execute malicious and unauthorized actions transmitted from a user that the website trusts. IBM X-Force ID: 123669.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1194 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0, representing a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise web applications. This vulnerability resides within the server's authentication and authorization mechanisms, specifically in how it handles user sessions and request validation. The flaw allows attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the web application and its users by crafting malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate authenticated users. Such attacks can be executed through various means including phishing campaigns, compromised web pages, or social engineering tactics that trick users into unknowingly performing unauthorized actions on the vulnerable application.
The technical implementation of this cross-site request forgery vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the WebSphere Application Server framework. When users interact with the vulnerable application, the server fails to adequately verify that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same domain, enabling attackers to leverage the trust relationship established between the user's browser and the application. This weakness is particularly dangerous because IBM WebSphere serves as a foundational component for many enterprise applications, making the impact of exploitation potentially widespread across multiple business-critical systems. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in software applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-1194 extends far beyond simple data theft or unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potential privilege escalation within the application. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform actions such as changing user passwords, modifying sensitive data, creating new user accounts, or executing administrative functions without proper authorization. The consequences are particularly severe in enterprise environments where WebSphere Application Server typically hosts critical business applications, financial systems, and customer data repositories. Organizations may experience significant financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited successfully. The attack vector is relatively straightforward for threat actors to implement, making it a preferred target for both automated attacks and targeted campaigns against vulnerable organizations.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected IBM WebSphere Application Server versions to address the CSRF implementation flaws. Security teams should also deploy comprehensive web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns, while implementing robust anti-CSRF token mechanisms within applications built on the WebSphere platform. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their WebSphere deployments to identify any custom applications that may be vulnerable due to improper CSRF protection implementation. The remediation process should include monitoring for suspicious user activities and implementing proper session management controls that can detect and prevent unauthorized request forwarding. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 for "Run-time Application Masking" and T1212 for "Exploitation for Credential Access", highlighting the need for both defensive measures and active monitoring of potential exploitation attempts.