CVE-2018-1883 in IBM
Summary
by MITRE
A problem within the IBM MQ 9.0.2, 9.0.3, 9.0.4, 9.0.5, and 9.1.0.0 Console REST API Could allow attackers to execute a denial of service attack preventing users from logging into the MQ Console REST API. IBM X-Force ID: 151969.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1883 affects IBM MQ versions 9.0.2 through 9.1.0.0, specifically within the Console REST API component. This issue represents a significant security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt service availability. The affected IBM MQ console interface provides administrators with web-based management capabilities, making it a critical component for system monitoring and operational tasks. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain API requests that can lead to system resource exhaustion or application instability, ultimately resulting in denial of service conditions that prevent legitimate users from accessing the management interface.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input validation and resource management within the REST API processing logic. Attackers can craft malicious requests that trigger abnormal behavior in the console application, causing it to consume excessive system resources or enter unstable states. This vulnerability falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks where the attacker leverages the API's response handling mechanisms to consume memory, CPU cycles, or other critical system resources. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects multiple versions of the IBM MQ console, indicating a systemic issue rather than a isolated incident. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400 which covers unspecified resource management issues, and potentially CWE-134 when considering the improper control of generation of code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader business continuity concerns. When the MQ Console REST API becomes unavailable, system administrators lose critical access to monitoring and management functions, potentially leading to extended downtime for critical messaging infrastructure. Organizations relying on IBM MQ for enterprise messaging may experience cascading effects as administrators cannot properly monitor queue status, manage connections, or perform routine maintenance tasks. The vulnerability creates a window of opportunity for attackers to maintain persistent access to the system while simultaneously preventing legitimate users from restoring normal operations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where rapid response to messaging issues is crucial. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks, specifically targeting the availability of system services.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application from IBM, as the vendor has released security fixes addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the REST API to untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include implementing rate limiting on API endpoints, monitoring for unusual request patterns, and establishing automated alerting for potential denial of service conditions. The implementation of web application firewalls or API gateways can provide additional layers of protection by filtering malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable console components. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues within the broader IBM MQ ecosystem, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations across all system components. Organizations should also maintain detailed incident response procedures specifically addressing denial of service conditions affecting management interfaces.