CVE-2001-0824 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in IBM WebSphere 3.02 and 3.5 FP2 allows remote attackers to execute Javascript by inserting the Javascript into (1) a request for a .JSP file, or (2) a request to the webapp/examples/ directory, which inserts the Javascript into an error page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2019
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in IBM WebSphere application server versions 3.02 and 3.5 FP2, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to inject malicious javascript code into web applications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web server's error handling processes. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that target specific endpoints, particularly .jsp files or the webapp/examples/ directory, where the injected javascript gets executed in the context of unsuspecting users' browsers.
The technical exploitation occurs when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being processed and rendered in error pages. When a request containing malicious javascript is made to the vulnerable endpoints, the application server fails to adequately escape or filter the input, allowing the javascript code to be embedded directly into the error response page. This creates a persistent cross-site scripting vector that can be triggered whenever users access the affected resources. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive application data. An attacker could potentially redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or inject additional malicious payloads that compromise the entire user session. The vulnerability affects the core web application framework of IBM WebSphere, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited across multiple applications running on the same server instance. This weakness directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566.001 for spearphishing with embedded attachments and T1059.007 for scripting with javascript, as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code in user browsers.
Organizations running affected IBM WebSphere versions should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this risk. The primary mitigation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the input validation flaws in the error handling mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization at all application entry points, including web forms, URL parameters, and HTTP headers, can prevent malicious code injection. Web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious javascript patterns in HTTP requests, while output encoding mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure all user-supplied data is properly escaped before rendering in web pages. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls and identify potential bypasses of the mitigation measures.