CVE-2018-1454 in InfoSphere Information Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.3, 11.5, and 11.7 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by the failure to properly enable HTTP Strict Transport Security. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to obtain sensitive information using man in the middle techniques. IBM X-Force ID: 140089.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1454 affects IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions 11.3, 11.5, and 11.7, representing a significant security weakness that could be exploited by remote attackers to compromise sensitive data. This issue stems from the improper implementation of HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) mechanisms within the application's web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to intercept and manipulate communications between clients and the server. The vulnerability specifically targets the security controls that should enforce encrypted connections, leaving systems susceptible to various forms of interception attacks that could expose confidential information.
The technical flaw manifests in the absence of proper HSTS header implementation, which should instruct web browsers to only communicate with the server over HTTPS connections and to refuse any HTTP requests. Without this protection, attackers can exploit man-in-the-middle techniques to intercept data transmission, potentially capturing authentication credentials, personal information, or business-critical data that flows through the vulnerable system. The failure to properly enable HSTS creates a window of opportunity for attackers to downgrade connections from secure HTTPS to insecure HTTP, making it easier to capture sensitive information during transmission.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to organizations utilizing IBM InfoSphere Information Server, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of encrypted communications. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation. Organizations relying on this platform for data integration, metadata management, and information governance may find their sensitive business data exposed to unauthorized access, particularly in environments where network traffic is not properly monitored or protected by additional security layers.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-311, which specifically addresses the absence of sensitive data protection, and represents a clear violation of secure communication protocols that should be implemented by default in enterprise applications. From an attacker's perspective, this weakness maps to ATT&CK technique T1041, which involves data compression and encoding to avoid detection, as well as T1566, which focuses on credential access through phishing and social engineering attacks that can be facilitated by weakened transport security. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface that could enable lateral movement and privilege escalation once initial access is achieved through information disclosure.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of proper HSTS headers with appropriate configuration settings, ensuring that the security headers are consistently applied across all web interfaces and endpoints. Organizations must also conduct comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and implement additional security controls such as certificate pinning and proper SSL/TLS configuration. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems, while ensuring that all components of the IBM InfoSphere Information Server platform receive appropriate updates and patches from IBM to address this and related security concerns.