CVE-2018-1665 in DataPower Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DataPower Gateway 7.6.0.0 through 7.6.0.10, 7.5.2.0 through 7.5.2.17, 7.5.1.0 through 7.5.1.17, 7.5.0.0 through 7.5.0.18, and 7.7.0.0 through 7.7.1.3 uses weaker than expected cryptographic algorithms that could allow an attacker to decrypt highly sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 144891.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1665 affects IBM DataPower Gateway versions spanning multiple release series including 7.6.0.0 through 7.6.0.10, 7.5.2.0 through 7.5.2.17, 7.5.1.0 through 7.5.1.17, 7.5.0.0 through 7.5.0.18, and 7.7.0.0 through 7.7.1.3. This weakness resides in the cryptographic implementation where the system employs algorithms that are weaker than expected for the security level required by modern standards. The vulnerability specifically impacts the gateway's ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive data through its cryptographic operations. The issue stems from the use of deprecated or insufficiently strong cryptographic primitives that do not meet contemporary security requirements for protecting enterprise data in transit and at rest. This weakness allows attackers to potentially decrypt sensitive information that should remain protected by strong encryption mechanisms. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on DataPower Gateway for security-critical operations where data confidentiality is paramount.
The technical flaw manifests in the cryptographic algorithm implementation where IBM DataPower Gateway utilizes cipher suites or encryption methods that have been compromised or weakened through advances in cryptanalysis. This weakness enables attackers to perform successful decryption attacks against data that was intended to be protected by robust cryptographic measures. The vulnerability falls under the category of weak cryptographic algorithms as classified by CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak or broken cryptographic algorithms. Attackers can exploit this weakness to recover plaintext data from encrypted communications, potentially gaining access to sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, financial information, or proprietary business data. The attack vector typically involves intercepting encrypted communications and applying known weaknesses in the cryptographic implementation to reverse engineer the encryption process. This weakness is particularly concerning because DataPower Gateways are commonly deployed in enterprise environments where they handle critical security functions including SSL termination, encryption, and secure data processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1665 extends beyond simple data exposure, affecting the overall security posture of organizations using affected DataPower Gateway versions. Enterprises may face compliance violations with regulatory frameworks such as pci dss, hipaa, and gdpr due to inadequate cryptographic protection of sensitive data. The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to confidential business information, customer data, and intellectual property that flows through the gateway. Organizations may experience significant financial losses, reputational damage, and legal consequences from data breaches resulting from this cryptographic weakness. The attack surface is broad as DataPower Gateways are often deployed at network perimeters and in critical security infrastructure where they process sensitive communications. Security incidents may require extensive forensic analysis to determine the full scope of data exposure, potentially involving multiple systems and processes that rely on the affected gateway for secure communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from affected organizations to upgrade their DataPower Gateway installations to versions that address the cryptographic weakness. IBM has released patches and updated versions that correct the implementation of cryptographic algorithms and ensure compliance with current security standards. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected DataPower Gateway versions within their infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Network segmentation and additional monitoring controls should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts while patches are deployed. Security teams should review existing cryptographic configurations and ensure that strong cipher suites are enforced across all gateway deployments. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated configurations to ensure that cryptographic operations function correctly without introducing compatibility issues. Organizations may also consider implementing additional security controls such as intrusion detection systems and network monitoring to detect anomalous behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes should be enhanced to prevent similar cryptographic weaknesses from being introduced in future deployments. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date cryptographic implementations and adhering to security standards such as those defined in the NIST Cryptographic Standards and the OWASP Top Ten security risks. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for cryptographic algorithm review and the importance of following established security frameworks like those outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for enterprise security operations.