CVE-2018-1420 in WebSphere Portal
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Portal 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 resets access control settings to the out of the box configuration during Combined Cumulative Fix (CF) installation. This can lead to security miss-configuration of the installation. IBM X-Force ID: 138950.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
IBM WebSphere Portal versions 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 contain a critical configuration vulnerability that fundamentally compromises security post-installation. During the installation process of Combined Cumulative Fixes, the system automatically resets all access control settings to their default factory configurations without proper user consent or notification. This behavior represents a serious deviation from expected security practices where system administrators maintain explicit control over access policies and permissions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of configuration persistence during patch installation procedures, creating a scenario where deliberate security hardening efforts are completely erased.
This flaw directly maps to CWE-254, which addresses security weaknesses related to improper handling of access control mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1543.003 for creating or modifying system level persistence mechanisms. The reset operation occurs at the core configuration level where user-defined security policies are overwritten, effectively neutralizing any custom access controls that may have been implemented to restrict unauthorized access to portal resources. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security posture of the portal by potentially exposing sensitive data and administrative functions to unauthorized users who would not normally have access rights.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it can lead to unauthorized access to confidential information, disruption of business operations, and potential compliance violations. Organizations that rely on WebSphere Portal for mission-critical applications face significant risk of data breaches when access control settings are reset to default configurations. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where strict access controls are required for regulatory compliance, such as financial services, healthcare, or government sectors. System administrators may not immediately detect the configuration reset, leading to prolonged periods of reduced security posture before the issue is discovered through routine security audits or incident response activities.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of configuration management practices and proactive monitoring procedures. Organizations should implement pre-installation backup procedures to preserve current access control settings before applying any cumulative fixes. The recommended approach includes creating detailed configuration documentation and establishing automated backup processes that capture security policies before patch deployment. Additionally, administrators should verify access control configurations post-installation through automated compliance checking tools and manual verification processes. IBM has released specific patches and documentation updates to address this issue, and organizations should ensure they are running the latest supported versions with proper configuration management protocols in place. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining robust configuration management practices and highlights the need for security-aware patch deployment procedures that preserve critical access control settings during system maintenance operations.