CVE-2010-4220 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Integrated Solution Console in the Administrative Console component in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 7.0 before 7.0.0.13 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 • 09/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4220 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Application Server version 7.0 prior to 7.0.0.13. This issue specifically affects the Integrated Solution Console component located within the Administrative Console, making it a significant threat to organizations relying on this enterprise application server platform. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions and data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Administrative Console's URL handling functionality. Attackers can exploit this weakness through unspecified vectors that involve URL injection techniques, allowing them to craft malicious URLs that, when processed by the server, execute unintended code in the victim's browser. This particular flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which specifically addresses the injection of malicious scripts into web applications. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through web-based interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, manipulate application data, and potentially escalate privileges within the WebSphere environment. Given that the Administrative Console serves as the primary interface for managing WebSphere server configurations, a successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain full administrative control over the application server. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using the Integrated Solution Console, which provides a web-based management interface for deploying and configuring applications, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise web applications.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0.0.13 or later versions that contain the necessary patches addressing this XSS vulnerability. Additional mitigations include implementing strict input validation mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls, and configuring proper output encoding for all user-supplied data. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify potential exploitation vectors and monitor network traffic for suspicious URL patterns. The vulnerability's exploitation risk is particularly high in environments where administrative console access is not properly restricted through network segmentation or authentication controls, as it could enable attackers to bypass traditional security measures and directly target the most critical components of the application server infrastructure.