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Security Bulletin: Vulnerability with RSA Export Keys may affect IBM WebSphere Application Server (CVE-2015-0138)

Security Bulletin


Summary

The “FREAK: Factoring Attack on RSA-EXPORT keys" TLS/SSL client and server vulnerability (CVE-2015-0138) may affect some configurations of IBM WebSphere Application Server Full Profile, IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile, and IBM WebSphere Application Server Hypervisor Edition.

Vulnerability Details

CVEID: CVE-2015-0138
DESCRIPTION: A vulnerability in various IBM SSL/TLS implementations could allow a remote attacker to downgrade the security of certain SSL/TLS connections. An IBM SSL/TLS client implementation could accept the use of an RSA temporary key in a non-export RSA key exchange ciphersuite. This could allow a remote attacker using man-in-the-middle techniques to facilitate brute-force decryption of TLS/SSL traffic between vulnerable clients and servers.

This vulnerability is also known as the FREAK attack.

CVSS Base Score: 4.3
CVSS Temporal Score: See http://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/#/vulnerabilities/100691 for the current score
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N)

Affected Products and Versions

AFFECTED VERSIONS: The following IBM WebSphere Application Server Versions may be affected:

  • Version 8.5 and 8.5.5 Full Profile and Liberty Profile
  • Version 8
  • Version 7
  • Version 6.1

Remediation/Fixes

Please note that the interim fixes for PI36563 also include the removal of RC4 stream ciphers.
For more information on RC4 stream ciphers, refer to the security bulletin Vulnerability in RC4 ciphers affects WebSphere Application Server.

By default, the WebSphere Application Server SSL configuration is set to use the "STRONG" or "HIGH" secure cipher list which does not use RSA Export ciphers, so you would not be affected if you have not changed your ciphers.

If you have overridden the default configuration to use the "MEDIUM" secure cipher list then it will contain the RSA Export Ciphers. You should change this configuration to use "STRONG" or "HIGH", or apply Interim Fix PI36563.

If you have configured to use "CUSTOM" list of ciphers that includes an RSA Export cipher, then you should remove those RSA Export ciphers from the Application Server configuration.

For any outbound connections, IBM Recommends that any servers that WebSphere Application Server is connecting to needs to insure that RSA Export Ciphers are also disabled. If you require RSA_Export on the server side then you should apply an interim fix for the client to block the downgrade of the RSA key. You should apply the correct Interim Fix as noted below for your version of the IBM SDK Java Technology Edition.


Fix: To remove the RSA Export Ciphers from the Medium secure cipher list:
Apply an Interim Fix, Fix Pack or PTF containing this APAR PI36563, as noted below:

For IBM WebSphere Application Full Profile, IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile or IBM WebSphere Application Server Hypervisor Edition:

For V8.5.0.0 through 8.5.5.5:

-- OR
  • Apply Fix Pack 6 (8.5.5.6), or later.

For V8.0.0.0 through 8.0.0.10:
-- OR
  • Apply Fix Pack 11 (8.0.0.11), or later.

For V7.0.0.0 through 7.0.0.37:
-- OR
  • Apply Fix Pack 39 (7.0.0.39), or later.

For V6.1.0.0 through 6.1.0.47:
  • If you are using the MEDIUM cipher list, refer to remediation above to remove the RSA export ciphers.


Fix to block the downgrade of the RSA keys:
You should apply the correct Interim Fix as noted below for your version of the IBM SDK Java Technology Edition.

APAR IV70681 - includes the fix for CVE-2015-0138 for IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Versions 6, 7 and 8
APAR IV70684 - includes the fix for CVE-2015-0138 for IBM SDK, Java 2 Technology Edition Version 5

Apply an Interim Fix, Fix Pack or PTF as noted below:

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

Download and apply the interim fix APARs below, for your appropriate release:

For V8.5.0.0 through 8.5.5.5 Liberty Profile:
  • Apply Interim Fix PI42772: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 6R1 Service Refresh 8 Fix Pack 3 (required) + IV70681
  • Apply Interim Fix PI37005: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 7 Service Refresh 8 FP10 (optional) +IV70681
  • Apply Interim Fix PI37004: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 7R1 Service Refresh 2 FP10 (optional) + IV70681
  • Apply Interim Fix PI37003: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 8 (optional) + IV70681
--OR--
  • Apply IBM Java SDK shipped with the WebSphere Application Server Fix pack 6 (8.5.5.6) or later.

For V8.5.0.0 through 8.5.5.5 Full Profile:
  • Apply Interim Fix PI37006: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 6R1 Service Refresh 8 Fix Pack 3 (required) + IV70681
  • Apply Interim Fix PI37005: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 7 Service Refresh 8 FP10 (optional) +IV70681
  • Apply Interim Fix PI37004: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 7R1 Service Refresh 2 FP10 (optional) + IV70681
--OR--
  • Apply IBM Java SDK shipped with the WebSphere Application Server Fix pack 6 (8.5.5.6) or later.
For 8.0.0.0 through 8.0.0.10:
  • Apply Interim Fix PI37010: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 6R1 Service Refresh 8 Fix Pack 2 + IV70681
--OR--
  • Apply Interim Fix PI38186: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 6R1 Service Refresh 8 Fix Pack 3 + IV70681
--OR--
  • Apply IBM Java SDK shipped with WebSphere Application Server Fix pack 11 (8.0.0.11) or later.

For V7.0.0.0 through 7.0.0.37:
  • Apply Interim Fix PI37013: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 6 Service Refresh 16 Fix Pack 3 + IV70681
--OR--
  • Apply IBM Java SDK shipped with WebSphere Application Server Fix pack 39 (7.0.0.39) or later.

For V6.1.0.0 through 6.1.0.47:
  • Contact IBM Support and apply Interim Fix PI37015: Will upgrade you to IBM SDK, Java 2 Technology Edition, Version 5.0 Service Refresh 16 Fix Pack 9 + IV70684

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.

Get Notified about Future Security Bulletins

Important Note

IBM strongly suggests that all System z customers be subscribed to the System z Security Portal to receive the latest critical System z security and integrity service. If you are not subscribed, see the instructions on the System z Security web site. Security and integrity APARs and associated fixes will be posted to this portal. IBM suggests reviewing the CVSS scores and applying all security or integrity fixes as soon as possible to minimize any potential risk.

References

Off

Acknowledgement

CVE-2015-0138 was reported to IBM by Karthikeyan Bhargavan of the PROSECCO team at INRIA

Change History

06 March 2015: original document published
09 March 2015: updated CVE information
26 March 2015: added ifixes
02 April 2015: added ifix links
06 May 2015: added link to RC4 bulletin
16 June 2015: added new SDK ifix link
10 September 2015: update version 6.1 information

*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin.

Disclaimer

Review the IBM security bulletin disclaimer and definitions regarding your responsibilities for assessing potential impact of security vulnerabilities to your environment.

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Document Information

Modified date:
15 June 2018

UID

swg21698613