CVE-2019-4080 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server Admin Console 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 is vulnerable to a potential denial of service, caused by improper parameter parsing. A remote attacker could exploit this to consume all available CPU resources. IBM X-Force ID: 157380.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2023
IBM WebSphere Application Server Admin Console versions 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 contain a critical denial of service vulnerability resulting from inadequate parameter parsing mechanisms. This flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the system by crafting malicious input parameters that cause the console to consume excessive CPU resources, ultimately leading to system unavailability. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters within the administrative interface, creating a condition where malformed input can trigger resource exhaustion attacks. The improper parameter handling creates a pathway for attackers to perform sustained CPU consumption attacks that can effectively render the application server unusable. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-400, which describes the weakness of uncontrolled resource consumption, commonly known as a resource exhaustion attack. The attack vector is remote and does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as any user with access to the network can exploit this weakness. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where WebSphere Application Server serves as a critical component for application deployment and management. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the sustained CPU consumption can affect other applications running on the same server, potentially causing cascading failures throughout the enterprise infrastructure. Organizations relying on these server versions face potential business disruption, increased operational overhead, and possible compliance violations due to the unavailability of critical administrative functions. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, specifically targeting application availability through resource exhaustion. The attack pattern demonstrates how improper input validation can be leveraged to create sustained performance degradation that affects system availability. The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's failure to properly implement parameter validation controls, which should include input length limits, character set restrictions, and resource consumption monitoring. The lack of proper rate limiting and resource allocation controls within the admin console's parameter processing logic creates an environment where malicious input can trigger unlimited processing cycles. This weakness in input sanitization represents a fundamental security flaw that allows attackers to manipulate system resources through seemingly benign administrative interfaces. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to address this vulnerability, as the potential for sustained denial of service attacks makes this issue particularly critical for enterprise security. The remediation process should include implementing proper parameter validation controls, establishing resource consumption monitoring, and deploying network-level protections to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against parameter-based attacks targeting administrative interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in administrative components, as these interfaces often serve as primary attack surfaces for enterprise systems. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their administrative interfaces to identify similar weaknesses that could be exploited through various attack vectors. This vulnerability also underscores the need for regular security updates and patch management processes to ensure that known weaknesses are addressed before they can be exploited by malicious actors in the wild.