CVE-2024-35119 Overview
IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7 discloses sensitive technical information through verbose error messages. When the application encounters an unhandled exception, it returns a detailed stack trace to the requesting client. Remote attackers can trigger these errors without authentication and harvest internal implementation details from the responses. The exposed data may include class names, file paths, library versions, and framework internals. Attackers can use this reconnaissance to plan follow-on attacks against the server. IBM tracks this issue as X-Force ID 290342. The weakness is classified under [CWE-209: Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information].
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can retrieve stack traces that reveal internal application structure, aiding subsequent targeted exploitation of the InfoSphere Information Server environment.
Affected Products
- IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7
- Deployments exposing the InfoSphere web interface to untrusted networks
- Environments running the affected InfoSphere components without applied fixes
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-06-30 - CVE-2024-35119 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-35119
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an information disclosure flaw in IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7. When the server processes a malformed or unexpected request, it returns a full technical error message containing a stack trace. This behavior falls under [CWE-209], which covers error messages that leak sensitive internal information.
The attack requires no authentication and no user interaction. An attacker can reach the vulnerable endpoint over the network and generate error conditions through crafted input. The response body echoes back Java class hierarchies, method names, module paths, and dependency versions.
While the flaw does not directly grant code execution or data modification, it provides valuable reconnaissance. Attackers use the leaked details to fingerprint the environment and select targeted exploits against known component versions.
Root Cause
The root cause is verbose exception handling in production. The application propagates raw exception objects to the HTTP response layer rather than catching them and returning generic error pages. This design choice, common in debug or development builds, was retained in the shipped 11.7 code path.
Attack Vector
An unauthenticated remote attacker sends HTTP requests to the InfoSphere Information Server that trigger server-side exceptions. Malformed parameters, unexpected content types, invalid session tokens, or oversized inputs commonly generate such errors. The server responds with an HTML or JSON body containing the full stack trace, which the attacker parses for internal identifiers.
Refer to the IBM X-Force Vulnerability Report and the IBM Support Article for vendor-supplied technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-35119
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP responses from InfoSphere endpoints containing Java stack trace strings such as at com.ibm. or Caused by: returned to external clients
- Elevated rates of HTTP 500 responses from InfoSphere hosts correlated with a single source IP
- Access log entries showing malformed parameters, invalid Content-Type headers, or truncated payloads sent to InfoSphere web endpoints
Detection Strategies
- Inspect outbound HTTP response bodies from InfoSphere servers for stack trace signatures and exception class names
- Correlate spikes in server-side error codes with unusual query patterns to identify probing activity
- Baseline normal InfoSphere request patterns and alert on repeated malformed requests originating from the same client
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward InfoSphere web server access and application logs to a centralized analytics platform for review
- Enable web application firewall (WAF) logging in front of InfoSphere and alert on responses that contain exception keywords
- Track authentication and error metrics per source IP to identify reconnaissance attempts targeting the disclosure flaw
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-35119
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the fix referenced in the IBM Support Article for InfoSphere Information Server 11.7
- Restrict network access to InfoSphere management and web interfaces to trusted administrative segments
- Review recent web server logs for evidence of external users triggering 500-level responses
Patch Information
IBM has published remediation guidance in the vendor advisory. Administrators should consult the IBM Support Article and the IBM X-Force Vulnerability Report to identify the specific fix pack or interim fix applicable to their deployment, then schedule installation according to change management procedures.
Workarounds
- Configure the application server to return generic error pages instead of raw stack traces to clients
- Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF rule that strips or blocks response bodies containing Java exception signatures
- Limit InfoSphere exposure to internal networks or VPN clients until the vendor fix is applied
# Example WAF rule concept: block outbound responses containing stack trace markers
# (adapt syntax to your specific WAF or reverse proxy platform)
SecRule RESPONSE_BODY "@rx (java\.lang\.[A-Za-z]+Exception|at com\.ibm\.|Caused by:)" \
"id:1035119,phase:4,deny,status:502,msg:'InfoSphere stack trace disclosure blocked (CVE-2024-35119)'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
