Security Bulletin: Multiple Vulnerabilities in Apache HttpComponents and HttpCommons affect WebSphere Application Server

Summary

There are multiple vulnerabilities in Apache HttpComponents and HttpCommons libraries which affect WebSphere Application Server. This has been addressed.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID:CVE-2015-5262
**DESCRIPTION:**Apache Commons is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by the failure to apply a configured connection during the initial handshake of an HTTPS connection by the HttpClient component. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to accumulate multiple connections and exhaust all available resources.
CVSS Base score: 5.3
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/106932 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L)

CVEID:CVE-2014-3577
**DESCRIPTION:**Apache HttpComponents could allow a remote attacker to conduct spoofing attacks, caused by the failure to verify that the server hostname matches a domain name in the Subject’s Common Name (CN) or SubjectAltName field of certificates. By persuading a victim to visit a Web site containing a specially-crafted certificate, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability using man-in-the-middle techniques to spoof an SSL server.
CVSS Base score: 4.3
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/95327 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N)

CVEID:CVE-2012-6153
**DESCRIPTION:**Apache HttpComponents could allow a remote attacker to conduct spoofing attacks, caused by an incomplete fix related to the failure to verify that the server hostname matches a domain name in the Subject’s Common Name (CN) or SubjectAltName field of certificates. By persuading a victim to visit a Web site containing a specially-crafted certificate, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability using man-in-the-middle techniques to spoof an SSL server.
CVSS Base score: 4.3
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/95328 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N)

CVEID:CVE-2011-1498
**DESCRIPTION:**Apache HttpComponents could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by an unspecified error in HttpClient. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to send the Proxy-Authorization header to the host and disclose the user’s password.
CVSS Base score: 5
CVSS Temporal Score: See: https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/66241 for the current score.
CVSS Vector: (AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N)

Affected Products and Versions

Remediation/Fixes

For WebSphere Application Server traditional and WebSphere Application Server Hypervisor Edition:

For V9.0.0.0 through 9.0.5.7:
· Upgrade to minimal fix pack levels as required by interim fix and then apply Interim Fix PH34501 and PH34944
--OR–
· Apply Fix Pack 9.0.5.8 or later (targeted availability 2Q2021).

For V8.5.0.0 through 8.5.5.19:
· Upgrade to minimal fix pack levels as required by interim fix and then apply Interim Fix PH34501 and PH34944
--OR–
· Apply Fix Pack 8.5.5.20 or later (targeted availability 3Q2021).

For V8.0.0.0 through 8.0.0.15:
· Upgrade to 8.0.0.15 and then apply Interim Fix PH34501 and PH34944

Additional interim fixes may be available and linked off the interim fix download page.

WebSphere Application Server V8.0 is no longer in full support; IBM recommends upgrading to a fixed, supported version/release/platform of the product.

Workarounds and Mitigations

None