CVE-2018-1668 in DataPower Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DataPower Gateway 7.5.0.0 through 7.5.0.19, 7.5.1.0 through 7.5.1.18, 7.5.2.0 through 7.5.2.18, and 7.6.0.0 through 7.6.0.11 appliances allows "null" logins which could give read access to IPMI data to obtain sensitive information. IBM X-Force ID: 144894.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1668 affects IBM DataPower Gateway appliances across multiple version ranges including 7.5.0.0 through 7.5.0.19, 7.5.1.0 through 7.5.1.18, 7.5.2.0 through 7.5.2.18, and 7.6.0.0 through 7.6.0.11. This security flaw represents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that allows unauthorized access to sensitive system information through the Intelligent Platform Management Interface. The issue stems from improper handling of authentication credentials where the system accepts null login attempts, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain read access to IPMI data without proper authentication. This vulnerability specifically impacts the management and monitoring capabilities of DataPower appliances, which are widely used for API management, security, and integration services in enterprise environments.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation of authentication parameters within the IPMI subsystem of the DataPower appliance. When a null login attempt is made, the system fails to properly reject these invalid credentials and instead grants access to the underlying IPMI interface. This design flaw creates a direct pathway for attackers to extract sensitive information including system configuration details, network settings, and potentially other confidential data stored within the appliance's management interface. The vulnerability operates at the authentication layer and can be classified under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication mechanisms, specifically focusing on weak or missing authentication checks. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in access control implementation where the system does not adequately validate user credentials before granting system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations deploying IBM DataPower Gateway appliances, particularly those in regulated industries or environments requiring strict access controls. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain read access to IPMI data which typically contains critical system information including firmware versions, hardware details, network configurations, and potentially sensitive operational parameters. This access could enable adversaries to perform reconnaissance activities, identify system weaknesses, and potentially escalate privileges to gain broader access to the network infrastructure. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and could lead to information disclosure that violates compliance requirements under standards such as pci dss, hipaa, and soc 2. Organizations may face regulatory penalties and security breaches if this vulnerability is exploited in production environments. The attack surface is particularly concerning as IPMI interfaces are often accessible from network segments that may not be properly secured, making this vulnerability exploitable from external networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit access to IPMI interfaces, and access controls should be implemented to restrict who can connect to these management interfaces. The vulnerability can be mapped to several ATT&CK techniques including credential access and defense evasion, as attackers may use this flaw to obtain system credentials or bypass security controls. Additional measures include disabling IPMI interfaces when not required, implementing network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous access patterns to management interfaces and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not negatively impact existing DataPower operations while effectively closing the authentication bypass window.