CVE-2022-34329: Uncovering Sensitive Information Leakage in IBM CICS TX 11.7

Recently, a vulnerability with the identifier CVE-2022-34329 has been identified in IBM CICS Transaction Gateway (TX) 11.7, which could potentially allow an attacker to obtain sensitive information from HTTP response headers. This vulnerability has been assigned an IBM X-Force ID of 229467. In this post, I will provide an in-depth analysis of this vulnerability, its implications, and how to remediate it.

Vulnerability Overview

IBM CICS TX 11.7 is a popular transaction gateway for enterprise applications to connect to CICS regions. This vulnerability specifically impacts the HTTP response headers that the CICS gateway uses to communicate with connected applications. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to potentially leak sensitive information, which might give them unauthorized access to various systems and applications. As a result, this can significantly jeopardize the security of the entire infrastructure.

Exploiting CVE-2022-34329

The core of the vulnerability lies within the HTTP response headers from the IBM CICS gateway. By performing a manual or automated analysis of the headers, an attacker can identify potential weaknesses in the way they're configured. Specifically, sensitive information hidden within these headers may be leaked to the attacker, who can then make use of it in further attacks or snooping attempts.

Code Snippet

To better understand the vulnerability at a code level, let's look at a typical HTTP response header in IBM CICS TX 11.7:

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2022 10:48:12 GMT
Server: IBM_CICS_TX/11.7
Content-Type: text/xml; charset=utf-8
Set-Cookie: sessionid=abcd1234; Secure
Connection: close
Content-Length: 1473

Here, an attacker might attempt to probe for sensitive information by analyzing this response header thoroughly. For example, they may target the session ID in the "Set-Cookie" attribute or look for weaknesses in the server version or configuration.

Links to Original References

IBM has acknowledged this vulnerability and provided a comprehensive security bulletinwith detailed information and patches for the affected versions. You can find the bulletin at the following link: IBM Security Bulletin: Vulnerability in CICS Transaction Gateway for z/OS (CVE-2022-34329)

Additionally, the CVE-2022-34329 entry in the CVE database provides brief information about the vulnerability and references to IBM's security bulletin: CVE-2022-34329 - NVD Entry

Remediation Steps

IBM has released patches that address this vulnerability in the affected versions of IBM CICS TX. You can find these patches in the previously mentioned IBM Security Bulletin. To remediate this vulnerability:

1. Refer to the IBM Security Bulletin and identify the appropriate patch for your specific version of CICS TX.

Download and apply the patch following the provided instructions in the bulletin.

3. Review the current configuration of your CICS TX application to ensure no sensitive information is exposed in the HTTP response headers.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-34329 is a significant vulnerability in IBM CICS TX 11.7 that could lead to sensitive information leakage via HTTP response headers and potentially compromise various systems and applications. It is crucial for organizations using IBM CICS TX to apply the necessary patches and take appropriate steps to secure their infrastructures, maintaining a high level of security and privacy for their data and users. By staying aware of vulnerabilities such as this and diligently applying patches, organizations can minimize the risks associated with cyberattacks and protect their critical systems.

Timeline

Published on: 11/14/2022 18:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/16/2022 20:39:00 UTC