CVE-2001-0446 in WebSphere Commerce Suite
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WCS (WebSphere Commerce Suite) 4.0.1 with Application Server 3.0.2 allows remote attackers to read source code for .jsp files by appending a / to the requested URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0446 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within IBM WebSphere Commerce Suite version 4.0.1 when paired with Application Server 3.0.2. This security weakness stems from improper access control mechanisms that fail to adequately protect server-side resources from unauthorized retrieval. The flaw specifically affects the web application server's handling of directory requests and demonstrates how seemingly benign URL manipulation can lead to significant exposure of sensitive application components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental flaw in the web server's resource resolution logic. When a remote attacker appends a forward slash character to a requested URL that points to a .jsp file, the application server inadvertently returns the raw source code of the JavaServer Page instead of executing it as intended. This occurs because the server configuration does not properly validate or sanitize directory traversal requests, allowing the system to serve source files rather than processed content. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-502 as "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" or more specifically as a directory traversal issue that enables source code disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposure of JSP source code provides attackers with comprehensive insights into the application's implementation details, business logic, and potentially sensitive configuration parameters. Attackers can leverage this information to identify additional vulnerabilities, understand authentication mechanisms, discover database connection strings, and analyze the overall architecture of the commerce platform. This exposure significantly increases the attack surface and provides malicious actors with valuable intelligence for planning more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1592, "Get Technical Information," and T1593, "Search Open Technical Databases," as it enables unauthorized access to source code repositories and technical documentation that should remain protected.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper access controls and web server configuration adjustments. Organizations should ensure that directory listing is disabled and that the application server is configured to properly handle requests for non-executable files. The recommended approach involves implementing strict file access policies that prevent direct access to source code files, configuring appropriate MIME type handling, and ensuring that all .jsp files are processed through the server's application container rather than served as static content. Additionally, regular security assessments and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and block suspicious URL patterns. The fix typically requires updating to a patched version of IBM WebSphere Commerce Suite or implementing custom security measures that prevent directory traversal attacks. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in web applications, as it demonstrates how a simple configuration oversight can lead to complete source code exposure and compromise the entire application security posture.