CVE-2017-1240 in Rhapsody DM
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rhapsody DM products could reveal sensitive information in HTTP 500 Internal Server Error responses. IBM X-Force ID: 124359.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1240 affects IBM Rhapsody Decision Manager products and represents a sensitive data exposure issue within HTTP error responses. This flaw manifests when the system generates HTTP 500 Internal Server Error responses that inadvertently contain sensitive information about the underlying system architecture, internal processes, or configuration details. The disclosure occurs through the error response payload, which may include stack traces, internal file paths, database connection details, or other system-specific information that could aid malicious actors in understanding the target environment.
This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure weaknesses and aligns with CWE-209, which addresses information exposure through error messages. The flaw represents a classic case of improper error handling where the application fails to sanitize error responses before returning them to clients. When the Decision Manager system encounters an unexpected condition or internal failure, it generates a generic error response that contains excessive diagnostic information beyond what is necessary for legitimate troubleshooting purposes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it exposes internal system components that should remain hidden from external entities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be leveraged in subsequent attack phases. An attacker who discovers this vulnerability can use the exposed information to craft more targeted attacks, potentially identifying specific software versions, internal service configurations, or architectural patterns that could be exploited in conjunction with other vulnerabilities. The exposure of internal system details can significantly reduce the attack surface complexity and provide attackers with a roadmap for deeper system exploration, making this a critical issue for organizations relying on IBM Rhapsody Decision Manager products.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1240 should focus on implementing proper error handling mechanisms that sanitize all error responses before transmission. Organizations should configure their Decision Manager systems to return generic error messages that do not contain system-specific diagnostic information while still providing sufficient information for legitimate system administrators to troubleshoot issues. This approach aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of least privilege in error messaging. The implementation of centralized error handling components that intercept and normalize error responses can prevent sensitive data exposure while maintaining system usability. Additionally, regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other parts of the application stack. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can monitor for unusual error response patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.