Question

SSL between IBM HTTP Server Plugin and WebShere Application Server

Asked by: WASAdmin25

Hi,

I have an environment with two WAS installations on single machine and only one HTTP Server installation.

I am using the single plugin-cfg.xml file to serve the requests to both the applications on different WAS installations.

I enabled the SSL for IBM HTTP Server and I can access the applications using

https://webserverhost/AppA
https://webserverhost/AppB

But the Websphere Application server is using the default keystores and the dummy certificates which came with WAS installation package.

I didn't configure the SSL between WebServer Plugin and WebContainer of WAS.

My question is if I could enable the SSL for WebServer does it mandatory to enable between Plugin and WebContainer of WAS??

In addition, if I use the default keystores and the dummy certificates of WAS does it affect anything??


Please Advice !!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks in Advance....



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Asked On
2009-01-12 at 09:37:09ID24044845
Topics

Network Security

,

IBM Websphere Application Server

,

Apache Web Server

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: ParanormasticPosted on 2009-01-12 at 11:11:04ID: 23356223

Since they are on the same box, you mainly need to be concerned about very difficult attacks such as memory sniffing.  If this is an acceptable risk, then you're good - just make sure you're encrypting your database at the end of it all for the data at rest.

If you are handling credit cards or classified information, then you may need to encrypt  the channel between them.  Using local certs are fine or using the SSL cert is good too.  At worst you may just need to trust the cert that the other is using, depending if the cert was in the trusted store for both apps or not.

Dummy certs are good for testing.  Technically valid, but you can't really revoke them so against best practice.

 

by: WASAdmin25Posted on 2009-01-12 at 11:24:01ID: 23356345


Thanks for your swift response.

 I am passing the credit card details in the channel so, I think  I need to enable the SSL between Plugin
 and the WAS Container.

I have been trying to find the perfect document for enabling SSL  between the webserver plugin and the WAS WebContainer but I am getting with different documents with different views.

I read the redbook of WAS Security but still got some doubts. So if anyone could able to provide the exact document for the SSL configuration between Plugin and WAS would be appreciated.


Thanks in Advance



 

by: ParanormasticPosted on 2009-01-12 at 14:16:09ID: 23358044

Not sure which redpapers you read - hopefully something here is new for you.  If not, let me know and I can try to dig deeper in the morning.

General info:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/wseic/v2r6/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.wse.doc/infocenter/i_sec_t_cfgwaspluginforhttpserv.html

More detailed on securing the link - pretend like they are on two different boxes but do things locally.  See section 10.11:
IBM WebSphere V5.0 Security WebSphere Handbook Series, SG24-6573-00:
ftp://ftp.inf.utfsm.cl/pub/Docs/IBM/WebSphere/pdfs/sg246573.pdf
(note this is pretty big download - about 9-10MB)

 

by: HonorGodPosted on 2009-01-30 at 11:23:24ID: 23511825

Q: Must the plugin use SSL to connect to an Application Server?
A: No.

  Simply remove the HTTPS (i.e., secure) virtual host configuration entry for the resource.  Then, the only path from the web server to the resource on the application server will be over a non-SSL (i.e., http) connection.

 

by: giltjrPosted on 2009-01-30 at 19:16:09ID: 23515089

Actually I am fairly sure you don't need to encrypt the data passing between WAS and IHS.  

The way PCI reads data only need to be encrypted when going over public networks, like the Internet, or when it is at rest.

When going over private networks it does not need to be encrypted, it might be a good idea, but it is not required.  

Since WAS and IHS are on the same box, the traffic is not even really flowing over a network, it stays within memory.  

As long as the data is encrypted in the database and between the end user and IHS you should be safe and compliant.

 

by: HonorGodPosted on 2009-01-31 at 06:47:37ID: 23516941

It stays in memory if, and only if, the hostname used by the plugin to access WAS is localhost.  If a normal hostname is used, then the data does flow over the wire, and can be captured by a wire sniffer.

 

by: WASAdmin25Posted on 2009-02-13 at 10:10:01ID: 23635437

Sorry for  delayed response...

As per the  discussion, I come to know that its not mandatory to enable the SSL between Plugin and the WAS Container.

At present I am using the WebSphere  V6.1 default keystores i.e key.p12 and trust.p12 and they are using the dummy certificates. So, do I need to import the self signed certificates and if I use the dummy certificates does it affect anything in the Production environment.


Please Advice !!!

Thanks

 

by: HonorGodPosted on 2009-02-13 at 10:27:40ID: 23635629

Well, by using the "default" certificates, you are only providing an appearance of security.  The keystore password is available from IBM, which means that anyone can get a copy of the certificates stored in it.

It is much, much, safer to use your own certificates, and your own keystore password...

 

by: giltjrPosted on 2009-02-13 at 16:03:57ID: 23638456

As HonorGod states, anybody can get the keystore password from IBM.  

If you really want to still encrypt traffic between IHS and WAS, then you need to stop using the defaults and create your own.

I will say that unless you have to, that you should not encrypt the traffic.  It add overhead that you don't need.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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