CVE-2006-2435 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Application Server 5.0.2 and earlier, and 5.1.1 and earlier, has unknown impact and attack vectors related to "Inserting certain script tags in urls [that] may allow unintended execution of scripts."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-2435 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that affected IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 5.0.2 and earlier, as well as 5.1.1 and earlier releases. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web server's URL processing functionality, where the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses. The vulnerability specifically manifests when certain script tags are embedded within URLs, creating a potential attack vector that could enable malicious actors to inject and execute unauthorized scripts within the context of a victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows attackers to inject malicious code into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it represents a critical security flaw that could enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious websites. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate the web application's behavior by injecting script code through URL parameters, potentially allowing them to access sensitive user information, modify application functionality, or escalate their privileges within the application environment. The unspecified nature of both the impact and attack vectors in the original CVE description suggests that this vulnerability could be leveraged in multiple ways depending on the specific implementation details and the target application's configuration. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables the execution of malicious javascript code through web-based attack vectors.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically requires an attacker to craft malicious URLs containing script tags that can be processed by the vulnerable WebSphere Application Server. The attack often involves social engineering elements where users might be tricked into clicking on malicious links, or the attacker might directly inject the malicious code through vulnerable application interfaces. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of IBM WebSphere Application Server indicates a widespread issue that would have affected numerous enterprise applications relying on this middleware platform. Organizations using these vulnerable versions would have been exposed to potential security breaches, particularly in environments where user input is not properly sanitized before being processed and returned to web clients. The remediation approach would have required either applying the appropriate security patches from IBM, upgrading to supported versions of WebSphere Application Server, or implementing additional input validation measures at the application level to prevent script injection attacks.