CVE-2017-1583 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server (IBM Liberty for Java for Bluemix 3.13)could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information caused by improper error handling by MyFaces in JSF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2021
IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty version 3.13 contains a vulnerability that arises from improper error handling within the MyFaces implementation of JavaServer Faces. This flaw enables remote attackers to extract sensitive information through crafted requests that trigger error responses containing internal system details. The vulnerability stems from the application server's failure to properly sanitize error messages before returning them to client systems, creating an information disclosure scenario that could reveal system configurations, file paths, or other confidential data.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the MyFaces component's inadequate error handling mechanisms within the JSF framework. When specific conditions are met during request processing, the system generates error responses that inadvertently expose internal implementation details to remote attackers. This improper error handling represents a classic security weakness that aligns with CWE-209, which specifically addresses information exposure through error messages. The vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient input validation and error sanitization can create attack vectors for information gathering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. An attacker could leverage the exposed information to understand the underlying system architecture, identify potential weak points in the application stack, or craft more targeted attacks against other components. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not need physical access or local privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in cloud environments like IBM Bluemix where applications are exposed to public networks. This vulnerability could potentially enable attackers to gather system fingerprints that aid in privilege escalation or other advanced persistent threat activities.
Organizations running IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty 3.13 should prioritize applying the vendor-provided security patches that address the MyFaces error handling implementation. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive testing of the updated configuration to ensure that error responses no longer contain sensitive information. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual patterns of error response requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application firewalls or web application firewalls that can filter and sanitize error responses before they reach end users. The remediation process should align with security best practices outlined in the ATT&CK framework under the information gathering and reconnaissance phases, where attackers typically seek to understand system configurations before launching more targeted attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that similar error handling issues do not exist in other components of the application stack.