How to remediate – IBM WebSphere Portal Improper Access Control Checks (PI07185)

1. Introduction

IBM WebSphere Portal Improper Access Control Checks (PI07185) is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting IBM WebSphere Portal software on Windows hosts. An attacker could bypass security checks to access data a user should not be able to see. This impacts the confidentiality of sensitive information stored within the portal application.

2. Technical Explanation

The vulnerability lies in the WCM Path Traversal component, where insufficient access control validation allows an attacker to search for items they are not authorized to view. An attacker with a valid account can exploit this by crafting specific requests that bypass normal authorization checks. This is tracked as CVE-2013-6730.

• Root cause: The version of IBM WebSphere Portal does not properly validate user access when traversing file paths within the WCM component.
• Exploit mechanism: An attacker can send a specially crafted HTTP request containing malicious path traversal characters to bypass access control checks and retrieve sensitive information. For example, an attacker might attempt to access files outside their permitted directory structure by manipulating URL parameters.
• Scope: Affected products include IBM WebSphere Portal versions 7.0 and 8.0.

3. Detection and Assessment

To confirm vulnerability, check the installed version of IBM WebSphere Portal. A thorough assessment involves reviewing application logs for unauthorized access attempts.

• Quick checks: Use the IBM Installation Manager to verify the installed version of WebSphere Portal.
• Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 65955 can detect this vulnerability, but results should be verified manually.
• Logs and evidence: Examine application server logs (e.g., SystemOut.log) for suspicious file access attempts or error messages related to path traversal.

# Example command placeholder:
# No specific command available to directly confirm exposure, rely on version check via IBM Installation Manager.

4. Solution / Remediation Steps

Apply Interim Fix PI07185 or upgrade to a fixed version of WebSphere Portal. Follow the steps below for installation.

4.1 Preparation

• Ensure you have sufficient disk space and administrative privileges to install the interim fix. A roll back plan involves restoring from the backup created in this step.
• A change window may be needed, depending on your environment’s downtime policies. Approval from the security team is recommended.

4.2 Implementation

1. Step 1: Download Interim Fix PI07185 from IBM Support (http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21665915).
2. Step 2: Install the fix using the IBM Installation Manager.

4.3 Config or Code Example

Before

# No specific configuration change required, this is a software patch.  The vulnerability exists in the application code itself.

After

# After applying PI07185, the WCM Path Traversal component will have updated access control checks.

4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability

Implementing least privilege and input validation can help prevent this type of vulnerability.

• Practice 1: Least privilege – limit user accounts’ access rights to only the resources they need, reducing the impact if an account is compromised.
• Practice 2: Input validation – validate all user-supplied inputs to prevent malicious data from being processed by the application.

4.5 Automation (Optional)

# No automation script provided as this is a software patch requiring IBM Installation Manager.

5. Verification / Validation

• Post-fix check: Use IBM Installation Manager to confirm that Interim Fix PI07185 is installed and applied.
• Re-test: Attempt the same HTTP request used in the initial assessment (if known) – it should now be blocked by access control checks.
• Smoke test: Verify core portal functionality, such as user login and content display, still works as expected.
• Monitoring: Monitor application server logs for any error messages related to file access or path traversal attempts.

# Post-fix command and expected output:
# IBM Installation Manager should show PI07185 installed.

6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring

Regularly update security baselines and implement input validation checks in your development pipelines to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

• Baselines: Update your security baseline or policy to include the latest IBM WebSphere Portal security recommendations, including required patch levels.
• Pipelines: Add static application security testing (SAST) tools to your CI/CD pipeline to identify potential input validation issues early in the development process.
• Asset and patch process: Implement a regular patch review cycle for all software assets, prioritizing critical vulnerabilities like this one.

7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back

• Risk or side effect 1: Application server restart may cause temporary service interruption.
• Risk or side effect 2: Compatibility issues with other installed software are possible, though unlikely. Test in a non-production environment first.
• Roll back:
  1. Stop the application server.
  2. Restart the application server.

8. References and Resources

• Vendor advisory or bulletin: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21665915
• NVD or CVE entry: CVE-2013-6730
• Product or platform documentation relevant to the fix: No specific documentation available beyond IBM’s advisory.