CVE-2018-1551 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

IBM WebSphere MQ versions 8.0.0.2 to 8.0.0.8 and 9.0.0.0 to 9.0.0.3 may allow users to have more privileges than intended due to an invalid user group name.

Understanding CVE-2018-1551

This CVE affects IBM WebSphere MQ versions 8.0.0.2 to 8.0.0.8 and 9.0.0.0 to 9.0.0.3, potentially granting users elevated privileges.

What is CVE-2018-1551?

Users of affected versions of IBM WebSphere MQ could gain greater privileges than intended if an MQ administrator creates an invalid user group name.

The Impact of CVE-2018-1551

CVSS Score: 3.1 (Low Severity)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: High
Privileges Required: Low
Integrity Impact: Low
Confidentiality Impact: None
Availability Impact: None
Exploit Code Maturity: Unproven
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/A:N/AC:H/AV:N/C:N/I:L/PR:L/S:U/UI:N/E:U/RC:C/RL:O

Technical Details of CVE-2018-1551

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows users to have more authority than intended due to the creation of an invalid user group name by an MQ administrator.

Affected Systems and Versions

IBM WebSphere MQ 8.0.0.2 to 8.0.0.8
IBM WebSphere MQ 9.0.0.0 to 9.0.0.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited if an MQ administrator creates a user group name that is invalid.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the official fix provided by IBM.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or unusual activities.
Review and update user group names to ensure they are valid.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update user permissions and access levels.
Conduct security training for administrators to prevent similar misconfigurations.

Patching and Updates

Keep IBM WebSphere MQ up to date with the latest patches and security updates.