CVE-2017-1773 in DataPower Gateways
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DataPower Gateways 7.1, 7,2, 7.5, and 7.6 could allow an attacker using man-in-the-middle techniques to spoof DNS responses to perform DNS cache poisoning and redirect Internet traffic. IBM X-Force ID: 136817.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
IBM DataPower Gateways version 7.1, 7.2, 7.5, and 7.6 contain a critical vulnerability that enables man-in-the-middle attackers to perform DNS cache poisoning attacks through spoofed DNS responses. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of DNS response authenticity within the gateway's DNS resolution mechanisms. The flaw allows attackers positioned between the DataPower gateway and DNS servers to intercept legitimate DNS queries and respond with maliciously crafted DNS records that appear to originate from legitimate DNS servers. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-209, which addresses improper handling of DNS responses, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: DNS, specifically targeting DNS cache poisoning operations. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple traffic redirection as it can enable attackers to route users to malicious websites, intercept sensitive data, or facilitate further attacks through compromised DNS resolution. When exploited, this vulnerability undermines the fundamental trust model of DNS resolution and can lead to widespread traffic manipulation across the network. The vulnerability affects the gateway's ability to properly authenticate DNS responses, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to inject false DNS records into the cache. This weakness is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where DataPower gateways are commonly used for API management, security policy enforcement, and traffic routing. The attack vector requires the attacker to be positioned in the network path between the DataPower gateway and authoritative DNS servers, making it a significant concern for organizations with less secure network architectures. Organizations using these specific DataPower versions should prioritize immediate patching and network segmentation to mitigate the risk of DNS cache poisoning attacks that could compromise network integrity and user security.
The vulnerability manifests when the DataPower gateway processes DNS queries without adequate validation of response source authenticity. This allows attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the gateway and DNS infrastructure by presenting spoofed responses that contain malicious domain name mappings. The flaw operates at the network layer where DNS resolution occurs, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional network monitoring approaches. IBM has addressed this vulnerability through security updates that enhance DNS response validation mechanisms within the DataPower gateway software. Organizations should implement network-level protections such as DNS Security Extensions DNSSEC to provide additional layers of defense against DNS cache poisoning attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper network architecture design and the need for organizations to maintain updated security controls. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 where attackers use DNS for command and control communications and data exfiltration. The security implications extend to potential data breaches, service disruption, and compromise of sensitive information flowing through the affected gateways. Organizations should also consider implementing DNS monitoring solutions to detect anomalous DNS response patterns that could indicate cache poisoning attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of DNS security in enterprise environments and the need for comprehensive security measures across all network infrastructure components. Proper configuration and regular security assessments are essential to maintain protection against such sophisticated attacks targeting fundamental network services.