CVE-2017-1285 in WebSphere MQ
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere MQ 9.0.1 and 9.0.2 could allow an authenticated user with authority to send a specially crafted message that would cause a channel to remain in a running state but not process messages. IBM X-Force ID: 125146.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
IBM WebSphere MQ version 9.0.1 and 9.0.2 contain a vulnerability that affects the message channel processing functionality within the messaging infrastructure. This flaw specifically impacts authenticated users who possess the necessary permissions to send messages to the system. The vulnerability manifests when a specially crafted message is transmitted through a channel, causing the channel to maintain its operational state while simultaneously becoming unable to process any subsequent messages. This creates a condition where the channel appears to be functioning normally from a system perspective but effectively becomes non-operational from a message processing standpoint. The issue represents a denial of service scenario that can disrupt normal messaging workflows and potentially impact business continuity operations that depend on reliable message transmission.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of message processing states within the channel management subsystem. When an authenticated user sends a crafted message, the system fails to properly transition the channel state from active processing to a halted or error state, resulting in a persistent operational anomaly. This flaw demonstrates weaknesses in the message validation and state management mechanisms that govern channel behavior. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which covers "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and CWE-665, which addresses "Improper Initialization." The improper state handling creates a resource consumption issue where the channel remains allocated but non-functional, consuming system resources without providing operational value.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the reliability and integrity of messaging systems that depend on WebSphere MQ. Organizations relying on these messaging channels for critical business processes may experience message backlog, delayed processing, and overall system degradation. The vulnerability affects the fundamental messaging capabilities of the platform, potentially causing cascading effects throughout distributed applications that depend on message queuing for communication. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-privilege denial of service vector that could be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised accounts with message-sending permissions. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in high-throughput environments where channel availability directly correlates with system performance and business operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates that address this specific channel state handling issue. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect abnormal channel states that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reinforced to limit the potential for unauthorized message sending that could trigger this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched environments to ensure that channel state management functions properly and that no regressions have been introduced. Security teams should also review and audit existing access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel have the necessary permissions to send messages that could potentially trigger this condition. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access controls in enterprise messaging infrastructure, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Denial of Service by Resource Consumption and T1078.004 for Valid Accounts through legitimate account use by authorized users with appropriate privileges.