CVE-2001-0962 in WebSphere Commerce Suite
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server 3.02 through 3.53 uses predictable session IDs for cookies, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges of WebSphere users via brute force guessing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2025
IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 3.02 through 3.53 suffered from a critical session management vulnerability that fundamentally compromised user authentication security through predictable session identifier generation. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-330 weakness category, specifically addressing the use of weak random number generators in security-critical contexts. The flaw occurred because the application server generated session identifiers using algorithms that produced predictable sequences, making it feasible for remote attackers to guess valid session cookies through systematic brute force techniques. This weakness directly enabled session hijacking attacks where malicious actors could assume the identity of legitimate users and access protected resources within the WebSphere environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stemmed from the application server's insufficient entropy in session ID generation mechanisms. When users authenticated to the WebSphere application server, the system would create a session cookie containing a session identifier that was not properly randomized. Attackers could exploit this predictability by analyzing session ID patterns or employing automated tools to systematically guess valid session tokens. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it bypassed traditional authentication mechanisms entirely, allowing unauthorized access without requiring valid credentials or exploiting other authentication flaws. This weakness aligned with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes credential access through the exploitation of predictable session identifiers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe across multiple security domains. Organizations using affected WebSphere versions faced potential unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, privileged account compromise, and complete system infiltration. The vulnerability affected all authentication methods within the WebSphere environment, including form-based authentication, basic authentication, and other session-based security controls. Attackers could leverage this weakness to access confidential business information, modify critical application data, and potentially escalate privileges to administrative levels within the WebSphere application server. The vulnerability was particularly concerning for financial institutions and organizations handling sensitive personal data, as it provided a straightforward path for unauthorized access without requiring sophisticated attack vectors or exploitation of complex application flaws.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate action from affected organizations. The primary solution involved upgrading to IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 4.0 and later, which implemented proper random number generation for session identifiers. Organizations should have also considered implementing additional security controls such as session timeout mechanisms, secure cookie attributes, and network-level protections to reduce the attack surface. Security teams needed to conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected WebSphere versions and ensure proper patching protocols were followed. The remediation process required careful planning to avoid service disruptions while ensuring all vulnerable systems were properly updated. Organizations should have also implemented monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and established incident response procedures to address any successful attacks that occurred during the vulnerability window. This vulnerability highlighted the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in security-critical applications and served as a reminder of the devastating impact that predictable random number generation can have on overall system security.