CVE-2010-0779 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 6.0.2.43, 6.1 before 6.1.0.33, and 7.0 before 7.0.0.11 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0779 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Application Server administration console components. This issue affects multiple versions of the application server including 6.0 prior to 6.0.2.43, 6.1 prior to 6.1.0.33, and 7.0 prior to 7.0.0.11, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these platforms for enterprise application deployment and management. The vulnerability specifically targets the administration console interface which serves as the primary management gateway for configuring and monitoring web applications within the WebSphere environment, making it a highly attractive target for malicious actors seeking to compromise enterprise systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the administration console's web interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts or HTML content through unspecified vectors that bypass the server's security controls. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied input is directly reflected back to the browser without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's browser session. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where web applications fail to properly validate or encode user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate the administration console functionality itself. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system configurations, modify application settings, or even escalate privileges within the WebSphere environment. The administration console typically operates with elevated privileges and contains critical system information, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access or system compromise. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers execution through command and scripting interpreters, as the injected scripts could potentially be leveraged to execute malicious commands within the server environment.
Organizations utilizing affected WebSphere versions should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM security patches and updates. The vulnerability requires careful monitoring of network traffic for suspicious activity and implementation of additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls and enhanced input validation. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive assessments of their WebSphere environments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this type of vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched environments to ensure that the security updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications while maintaining the integrity of the administration console functionality.