Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in SSLv3 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server (CVE-2014-3566)

Summary

SSLv3 contains a vulnerability that has been referred to as the Padding Oracle On Downgraded Legacy Encryption (POODLE) attack. SSLv3 is enabled by default in IBM WebSphere Application Server. These fixes will disable SSLv3 completely.

Vulnerability Details

CVE ID: CVE-2014-3566**
DESCRIPTION: **IBM WebSphere Application could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by a design error when using the SSLv3 protocol. A remote user with the ability to conduct a man-in-the-middle attack could exploit this vulnerability via a POODLE (Padding Oracle On Downgraded Legacy Encryption) attack to decrypt SSL sessions and access the plaintext of encrypted connections.

CVSS Base Score: 4.3
CVSS Temporal Score: See https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/97013 for the current score
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N)

Affected Products and Versions

This vulnerability affects all versions and releases of IBM WebSphere Application Server, IBM WebSphere Application Server Full Profile, IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile and IBM WebSphere Application Server Hypervisor Edition.

Remediation/Fixes

Please refer to the Security Bulletin for IBM HTTP Server to remediate your webserver.

Please note that these fixes will remove SSLv3 completely.

If you have SSL hard coded in your application code, such as SSLContext.getInstance(“SSL”) then you should install the interim fixes listed below since the current implementation defaults that context to SSLv3. The interim fix is an enhancement in the IBM JDK.** **

The following table lists some common standard protocol label names for Java 5 and above:

The IBM® SDK Java™ Technology Edition that is shipped with IBM WebSphere Application Server will be updated per the chart below, so that SSL Protocol alias label of “SSL” would mean the TLS levels marked.

Java Version

|

TLS 1.0

|

TLS 1.1

|

TLS 1.2

—|—|—|—

Java 7 Server

|

x

|

x

|

x

Java 7 Client

|

x

|
|

Java 6

|

x

|
|

Java 5

|

x

|
|

The interim fixes will disable SSLv3 by default. If you need to re-enable SSLv3, then there is a new java system property to enable SSLv3 with the protocols listed above. Set the system property either statically or dynamically as described in the product documentation for the IBM SDK Java Technology Edition you are using or in the Setting generic JVM arguments technote Warning: Reenabling this will make you vulnerable to the POODLE attack.
**-Dcom.ibm.jsse2.disableSSLv3=false******

Second, update the Oracle system property jdk.tls.disabledAlgorithms by removing SSLv3 from the list. This property is defined in the java.security file and any protocols in this list will be disabled. You can modify the setting to remove SSLv3 or add further algorithms with the following syntax:

_For the IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition that is used by IBM WebSphere Application Server Full Profile: _ For Java 7 or Java 8:

• Edit the java.security file and turn off SSLv3 by adding: jdk.tls.disabledAlgorithms=SSLv3
  _
  For the IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition or Oracle Java SDK, that is used by IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile: _

• Edit the java.security file and turn off SSLv3 by adding: jdk.tls.disabledAlgorithms=SSLv3

This security property has precedence over the IBM system property com.ibm.jsse2.disableSSLv3
Please refer to the knowledge center for more information: <http://www-01.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSYKE2_7.0.0/com.ibm.java.security.component.70.doc/security-component/jsse2Docs/disablesslv3.html?lang=en&gt;

For IBM WebSphere Application Server and IBM WebSphere Application Server Hypervisor Edition****:

If using Installation Manager 1.7.3.1 or older, please refer to the reference section and upgrade to Installation Manager 1.8 or newer.

Download and apply the interim fix APARs below, for your appropriate release:
**
For V8.5.0.0 through 8.5.5.3 Full Profile and Liberty Profile IM install: **

• Apply Interim Fix PI28435: Will upgrade you to IBM Java SDK Version 7R1 Service Refresh 1 Fix Pack 1 (optional) + APAR IV66110 for change to disable SSLv3 by default

• Apply Interim Fix PI28436: Will upgrade you to IBM Java SDK Version 7 Service Refresh 7 Fix Pack 1 (optional) + APAR IV66110 for change to disable SSLv3 by default

• Apply Interim Fix PI28437: Will upgrade you to IBM Java SDK Version 6R1 Service Refresh 8 Fix Pack 1 (required) + APAR IV66110 for change to disable SSLv3 by default
  --OR–

• Apply IBM Java SDK shipped with the WebSphere Application Server Fix pack 8.5.5.4 or later.
  **
  For 8.0.0.0 through 8.0.0.9:**

• Apply Interim Fix PI28438: Will upgrade you to IBM Java SDK Version 6R1 Service Refresh 8 Fix Pack 1 + APAR IV66110 for change to disable SSLv3 by default
  --OR–

• Apply IBM Java SDK shipped with WebSphere Application Server Fix pack 10 (8.0.0.10) or later.
  **
  For V7.0.0.0 through 7.0.0.35:**

• Apply Interim Fix PI28439: Will upgrade you to IBM Java SDK Version 6 Service Refresh 16 Fix Pack 1 + APAR IV66110 for change to disable SSLv3 by default
  --OR–

• Apply IBM Java SDK shipped with WebSphere Application Server Fix pack 37 (7.0.0.37) or later.
  **
  For V6.1.0.0 through 6.1.0.47:**

• Apply Interim Fix PI28796 : Will upgrade you to IBM Java SDK Version 5.0 Service Refresh 16 Fix Pack 7 + APAR IV66111 for change to disable SSLv3 by default.
  _
  For IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile not using IM install_
  Please refer to the vendor that supplies you SDK. For users of the IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition please refer to this security bulletin: IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition fixes to mitigate against the POODLE security vulnerability

For IBM WebSphere Application Server for i5/OS operating systems:

The IBM Developer Kit for Java is prerequisite software for WebSphere Application Server for IBM i. Please refer to Java on IBM i for updates on when these fixes will be available.

Workarounds and Mitigations

None. Please apply Interim Fix or Fix Packs.

IBM recommends that you review your entire environment to identify other areas that enable SSLv3 protocol and take appropriate mitigation (such as disabling SSLv3) and remediation actions.