CVE-2017-1423 in WebSphere
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Portal 8.5 and 9.0 exposes backend server URLs that are configured for usage by the Web Application Bridge component. IBM X-Force ID: 127476.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2021
This vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Portal versions 8.5 and 9.0 represents a significant information disclosure flaw that exposes backend server URLs through the Web Application Bridge component. The issue stems from improper access control mechanisms within the portal's bridge functionality, which allows unauthorized users to discover internal backend endpoints that should remain hidden from external clients. The Web Application Bridge component is designed to facilitate communication between the portal and backend applications, but in this case it inadvertently reveals configuration details that provide attackers with insights into the internal architecture. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-200 - Information Exposure, where sensitive system information is disclosed to unauthorized parties. The exposure of backend URLs creates a substantial attack surface as it provides adversaries with direct knowledge of internal service endpoints that may not be properly secured or monitored.
The technical implementation flaw occurs within the portal's configuration handling and response generation processes where backend server URLs are transmitted in a manner that does not adequately verify user authorization levels. When the Web Application Bridge component processes requests, it includes backend endpoint information in its responses without sufficient access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can view this sensitive configuration data. This misconfiguration allows any user who can access the portal's bridge functionality to extract information about internal systems, potentially including service endpoints, database connections, or other backend configurations that should remain confidential. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core portal functionality and can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to conduct more sophisticated reconnaissance activities and potentially escalate their attacks. By discovering backend URLs, threat actors can map the internal network architecture and identify potential targets for further exploitation, including vulnerable backend services, database endpoints, or other interconnected systems. This information disclosure creates opportunities for attackers to perform targeted attacks against the exposed backend components, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability also increases the risk of successful exploitation of other related vulnerabilities since attackers now have detailed knowledge of the internal system layout. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1083 - File and Directory Discovery and T1592 - Vulnerability Analysis, as it enables attackers to gather system information and analyze potential weaknesses in the network infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including access control restrictions on the Web Application Bridge component, configuration updates to prevent URL exposure, and network segmentation to limit access to sensitive backend endpoints. The recommended approach involves reviewing and tightening authorization controls within the portal configuration, ensuring that only authorized administrators can access bridge configuration details, and implementing proper input validation and output filtering to prevent sensitive information leakage. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive network scanning to identify any exposed backend services and ensure that proper firewall rules are in place to restrict access to internal components. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect similar information disclosure vulnerabilities throughout the system infrastructure. The remediation process should also include monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to bridge components and implementing logging mechanisms to track configuration access patterns, thereby providing visibility into potential exploitation attempts.