IBM Support

PI56377: SIGNATURE IN PROPAGATED SAML TOKEN MAY NOT BE VALID DUE TO ADDED NAMESPACE DECLARATIONS

Subscribe

You can track all active APARs for this component.

 

APAR status

  • Closed as program error.

Error description

  • When a JAX-WS provider application receives a signed SAML
    token in an inbound SOAP request, then propagates the token to
    a downstream service, the token fails signature validation.
    
    This behavior happens after installing fix packs 7.0.0.39,
    8.0.0.11 or 8.5.5.7.
    

Local fix

  • n/a
    

Problem summary

  • ****************************************************************
    * USERS AFFECTED:  IBM WebSphere Application Server            *
    *                  administrators of WS-Security enabled       *
    *                  JAX-WS applications and SAML                *
    ****************************************************************
    * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: SAML token may fail signature           *
    *                      validation after being propagated by    *
    *                      WS-Security                             *
    ****************************************************************
    * RECOMMENDATION:  Install a fix pack or interim fix that      *
    *                  contains this APAR.                         *
    ****************************************************************
    After installing fix packs 7.0.0.39, 7.0.0.41, 8.0.0.11,
    8.0.0.12, 8.5.5.7, 8.5.5.8 or 8.5.5.9, signed SAML tokens can
    no longer be propagated on downstream JAX-WS or trust client
    invocations.  If your scenario meets all of the following
    conditions then you may experience this issue.
    .
    1. The SAML token is obtained from the Security header of a
    2. JAX-WS web service request.
    3. The WS-Security constraints for the service contains a
    caller configuration for the SAML token.
    4. The SAML token contains a signature.
    5. The SAML token is not encrypted.
    6. The SAML token to be sent is retrieved from the auth cache
    or runAs subject.
    7. The receiver of the token will validate the signature.
    .
    A SAML token may fail signature validation after being
    propagated by WS-Security. The XML in the token emitted will
    differ from the one received on each element where a namespace
    prefix is used.  The emitted XML will be logically the same as
    the one received, but signature validation may fail.  For
    example:
    .
    <saml2:Issuer>IS02</saml2:Issuer>
    .
    becomes
    .
    <saml2:Issuer
    xmlns:saml2="urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:assertion">IS02</saml2:
    Issuer>
    .
    The following SAML token types are not affected:
    * Unsigned SAML tokens
    Although the XML is altered, since the token emitted is
    logically the same as the one that was received, the token
    will pass validation.
    .
    * Encrypted SAML tokens
    Since the signature in an encrypted SAML token is included
    in the encrypted token bytes, it cannot be modified. After the
    token is decrypted, the signature validation will pass.
    

Problem conclusion

  • To fix a memory leak, APAR PI32262 used an alternative
    cloning mechanism to clone a SAML token before it is put on
    the runAs subject.  This alternative cloning method produced
    an element that has XML that is logically the same, but the
    XML text is different.  The difference is that the namespace
    declaration is replicated on each element that uses a
    namespace prefix.  In many cases that is ok, however, if the
    token was signed, the signature in the token will no longer be
    valid.
    
    If the SAML token that has a signature is pulled from
    the runAs subject or auth cache and re-used in any way where
    the signature must be validated, the signature validation will
    fail.  For instance, it cannot be propagated on a downstream
    web services invocation or used in a trust client token
    exchange.
    
    This APAR is superseded by APAR PI56581.
    
    The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
    fix packs 7.0.0.43, 8.0.0.13 and 8.5.5.10.  Please refer to
    the Recommended Updates page for delivery information:
    
    http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980
    
    Keywords: IBMWL3WSS SAMLWSSEC
    

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

  • APAR number

    PI56377

  • Reported component name

    WEBS APP SERV N

  • Reported component ID

    5724H8800

  • Reported release

    850

  • Status

    CLOSED PER

  • PE

    NoPE

  • HIPER

    NoHIPER

  • Special Attention

    NoSpecatt / Xsystem

  • Submitted date

    2016-02-01

  • Closed date

    2016-02-09

  • Last modified date

    2016-08-09

  • APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

  • APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

    PI56885

Fix information

  • Fixed component name

    WEBS APP SERV N

  • Fixed component ID

    5724H8800

Applicable component levels

  • R700 PSY

       UP

  • R800 PSY

       UP

  • R850 PSY

       UP

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU059","label":"IBM Software w\/o TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SSEQTP","label":"WebSphere Application Server"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"8.5","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
28 April 2022