CVE-2017-1760 in WebSphere MQ
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere MQ 7.5, 8.0, and 9.0 could allow a local user to crash the queue manager agent thread and expose some sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 126454.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2021
IBM WebSphere MQ versions 7.5, 8.0, and 9.0 contain a vulnerability that affects the queue manager agent thread execution, potentially allowing local users to cause a denial of service condition and information disclosure. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain input parameters within the queue manager agent component, which operates as a critical subsystem responsible for managing queue manager operations and maintaining system stability. The flaw manifests when local processes attempt to interact with the queue manager agent through specific API calls or command sequences that trigger unexpected behavior in the thread execution context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a race condition or buffer handling issue within the agent thread processing logic, where insufficient validation of input data leads to memory corruption or invalid memory access patterns. When malicious or malformed input is processed by the queue manager agent, it can cause the thread to terminate abruptly or enter an unstable state, resulting in a system crash that requires manual intervention to restore normal operations. Additionally, the compromised thread state may inadvertently expose sensitive internal data structures or memory contents that should remain protected within the system's security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system availability concerns, as local users with minimal privileges can exploit this weakness to disrupt critical messaging services that many enterprise applications depend upon. Queue manager agents in WebSphere MQ are responsible for maintaining message flow, managing connections, and ensuring reliable communication between different system components, making their stability crucial for overall system integrity. When these agents crash or behave unpredictably, it can lead to message loss, application timeouts, and cascading failures that affect multiple dependent services within the enterprise infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-129, which covers insufficient validation of array indices, both of which are commonly associated with memory corruption vulnerabilities in messaging systems. From an adversarial perspective, this weakness maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network disruption through resource exhaustion or service interruption, and potentially T1068, which targets local privilege escalation through system component manipulation. The local user requirement for exploitation reduces the attack surface compared to remote vulnerabilities but still represents a significant risk in environments where local access is not strictly controlled.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the official IBM security patches that address the specific memory handling issues within the queue manager agent component. Organizations should implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and monitor for unusual thread behavior or system crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing process monitoring tools that can detect when queue manager agent threads terminate unexpectedly, along with regular security audits to ensure proper access controls are maintained. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in critical system components and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of edge cases in messaging infrastructure software.