The WebSphere Application Server process must not be started from the command line with the -password option.

From IBM WebSphere Traditional V9.x Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000381

SV-95983r1_rule The WebSphere Application Server process must not be started from the command line with the -password option.

Vulnerability discussion

The use of the -password option to launch a WebSphere process from the command line can result in a security exposure. Password information may become visible to any user with the ability to view system processes. For example, on a Linux system the "ps" command will display all running processes, which would include all of the command line flags used to start a WebSphere process.

Check content

Review System Security Plan documentation. Interview the system administrator. Access operating system to list commands currently running. For UNIX: run "ps -ef | grep -i wsadmin.sh" For windows: from a DOS prompt as admin user run "WMIC path win32_process where "caption='wsadmin.exe'" get CommandLine" If the results show "wsadmin.sh(exe) -user -password ", this is a finding.

Fix text

When starting WebSphere commands, such as wsadmin, stopManager, stopNode, stopServer, or syncNode; do not use the "-password " option. Use the interactive mode instead; you will be prompted for user id and password. For scripts, you may configure user id and password in the "connector properties" files. These files are under "Profile_Root/Properties" folder. - soap.client.props: for default SOAP - sas.client.props : for RMI and JSR160RMI connectors - ipc.client.props: for IPC connector

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