CVE-2010-0768 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Administration Console in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.0 before 6.0.2.41, 6.1 before 6.1.0.31, and 7.0 before 7.0.0.9 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0768 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Application Server administration console components. This weakness exists in multiple versions of the application server including 6.0.x series before 6.0.2.41, 6.1.x series before 6.1.0.31, and 7.0.x series before 7.0.0.9. The vulnerability specifically affects the administrative interface that administrators use to manage and configure the application server, making it a particularly dangerous issue for organizations relying on WebSphere for their enterprise application hosting.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the administration console's URI handling mechanism. When remote attackers craft malicious URIs containing script code or HTML content, the system fails to properly sanitize these inputs before rendering them in the web interface. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts that execute in the context of authenticated administrator sessions. The flaw operates at the application layer where user-supplied data flows directly into the web response without adequate security controls to prevent script injection.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise security infrastructure. Attackers who successfully exploit this XSS flaw can gain access to administrative functions with full privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as administrators may unknowingly execute malicious code that could steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify critical server configurations. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a backdoor into the administrative interface, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threats.
The security implications of CVE-2010-0768 align with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. This flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically web shell execution, and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of their WebSphere installations, as the administrative console represents a high-value target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise networks. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures while awaiting official patches from IBM.