IBM WebSphere JSP Root Password Disclosure Vulnerability

BID:3682

Info

IBM WebSphere JSP Root Password Disclosure Vulnerability

Bugtraq ID: 3682
Class: Design Error
CVE: CVE-2001-1189
Remote: No
Local: Yes
Published: Dec 13 2001 12:00AM
Updated: Jul 11 2009 09:06AM
Credit: This vulnerability was submitted to BugTraq on December 13th, 2001 by Heikki Tunkelo <[email protected]>.
Vulnerable: IBM Websphere Application Server 3.5.3
- IBM AIX 4.3
- Linux kernel 2.3 .x
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
IBM Websphere Application Server 3.5.2
- IBM AIX 4.3
- Linux kernel 2.3 .x
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
IBM Websphere Application Server 3.5.1
- IBM AIX 4.3
- Linux kernel 2.3 .x
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
IBM Websphere Application Server 3.5
IBM Websphere Application Server 3.0.2 .1
- IBM AIX 4.3
- Linux kernel 2.3 .x
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
IBM Websphere Application Server 3.0.2
- IBM AIX 4.3
- Linux kernel 2.3 .x
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
IBM Websphere Application Server 3.0 .2.4
- IBM AIX 4.3
- Linux kernel 2.3 .x
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
IBM Websphere Application Server 3.0 .2.3
- IBM AIX 4.3
- Linux kernel 2.3 .x
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
IBM Websphere Application Server 3.0 .2.2
- IBM AIX 4.3
- Linux kernel 2.3 .x
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
IBM Websphere Application Server 3.0
- IBM AIX 4.3
- Linux kernel 2.3 .x
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Novell Netware 5.0
- Sun Solaris 8_sparc
Not Vulnerable:

Discussion

IBM WebSphere JSP Root Password Disclosure Vulnerability

IBM WebSphere is a commercial web application server which runs on a number of platforms.

The root password for AIX, Linux and Sun systems is stored plaintext in a file called $WASROOT/properties/sas.server.props, which is not readable by non-root users. However, IBM WebSphere normally runs as root in default installations. In addition, all Java code on a host running IBM WebSphere is also executed with root privileges. This leaves an opening whereby an unprivileged local attacker could create a JSP script which could read the root password from $WASROOT/properties/sas.server.props to gain elevated privileges.

There are a number of other security implications that arise from a local unprivileged user being able to execute arbitrary code as root, all resulting in an escalation of privileges. Additionally, with the default configuration, hosts running IBM WebSphere may be vulnerable to a remote root compromise in cases where a remotely exploitable vulnerability allows arbitrary code execution.

Exploit / POC

IBM WebSphere JSP Root Password Disclosure Vulnerability

Currently the SecurityFocus staff are not aware of any exploits for this issue. If you feel we are in error or are aware of more recent information, please mail us at: [email protected] &lt;mailto:[email protected]&gt;.

Solution / Fix

IBM WebSphere JSP Root Password Disclosure Vulnerability

Solution:
Currently the SecurityFocus staff are not aware of any vendor-supplied patches for this issue. If you feel we are in error or are aware of more recent information, please mail us at: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>.

References

IBM WebSphere JSP Root Password Disclosure Vulnerability

References:

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