CVE-2010-2325 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the administrative console in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 7.0 before 7.0.0.11 on z/OS allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, related in part to "URL injection."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2325 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the administrative console of IBM WebSphere Application Server version 7.0 prior to 7.0.0.11 on the z/OS operating system platform. This weakness resides in the server's administrative interface, which serves as a critical management component for configuring and monitoring application server operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of URL parameters within the administrative console, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the server's management interface.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the administrative console's URL processing functionality. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious URLs that contain script payloads, which are then executed within the context of other users' browser sessions who access the administrative console. This particular vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a Cross-Site Scripting weakness, where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. The attack vector operates through URL injection techniques that bypass standard security controls, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the browser of authenticated users with administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS flaw can gain significant control over the administrative console, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform actions such as modifying server configurations, accessing sensitive administrative functions, stealing session cookies, and redirecting users to malicious websites. Given that the administrative console typically requires elevated privileges and provides access to critical system components, this vulnerability creates a substantial attack surface that could result in data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized system modifications. The z/OS platform adds additional complexity as it represents a mainframe environment where the administrative console often manages critical enterprise applications and data processing systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of IBM's security patches, specifically the 7.0.0.11 update release which addresses this specific XSS flaw. Organizations should implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious URL parameters, enforce strict input validation on all user-supplied data, and implement proper output encoding for all dynamic content generated by the administrative console. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the administrative console to only trusted users and systems. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs, as it demonstrates how even critical administrative components can contain exploitable flaws. Organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious URL patterns and user behavior within the administrative console to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect enterprise application servers from sophisticated attack vectors that target management interfaces.