CVE-2018-1663 in DataPower Gateways
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DataPower Gateways 7.5, 7.5.1, 7.5.2, 7.6, and 2018.4 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: 144889.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2023
IBM DataPower Gateways versions 7.5 through 2018.4 contain a critical security flaw that compromises the integrity of secure communications through improper implementation of HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from the gateway's failure to properly enforce HSTS headers, which creates an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to intercept and manipulate sensitive data transmitted between clients and the gateway. The weakness specifically manifests in the gateway's inability to consistently instruct web browsers to only communicate via secure HTTPS connections, leaving the system susceptible to various man-in-the-middle attack vectors.
The technical flaw represents a failure in the gateway's security configuration where HSTS headers are either absent or improperly configured, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to perform session hijacking, cookie theft, and other forms of credential interception. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-311, which addresses the absence of proper encryption of sensitive data, and falls under the broader category of insufficient transport layer protection. The exploitation technique relies on attackers positioning themselves between the client and server to intercept communications, leveraging the lack of HSTS enforcement to downgrade connections from HTTPS to HTTP, thereby exposing sensitive information to unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that secure communications depend upon. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session manipulation, steal authentication tokens, and access sensitive data that would normally be protected by HTTPS encryption. The vulnerability affects all supported versions of IBM DataPower Gateways, creating a widespread risk across organizations that rely on these appliances for API management, security gateway functions, and enterprise communication infrastructure. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly without requiring additional authentication or specialized tools, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where DataPower appliances handle sensitive corporate and customer data.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations that include enabling proper HSTS header configuration on all affected DataPower appliances, ensuring that the headers include the preload directive for browsers that support it, and implementing additional security controls such as certificate pinning and strict SSL/TLS protocol enforcement. The remediation process should involve comprehensive testing of the HSTS implementation to ensure that all endpoints properly enforce secure connections and that the security headers are consistently applied across all gateway configurations. Security teams should also monitor network traffic for signs of exploitation attempts and implement network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential man-in-the-middle attacks targeting this specific vulnerability. Organizations should consider implementing the ATT&CK framework's T1185 technique for securing web applications through proper header configuration and certificate management, as this vulnerability represents a clear failure in the secure configuration of web security controls.