CVE-2013-0459 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Administrative console in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.1 before 6.1.0.47, 7.0 before 7.0.0.27, 8.0 before 8.0.0.6, and 8.5 before 8.5.0.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2021
The CVE-2013-0459 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Application Server administrative console components. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of the application server including 6.1 prior to 6.1.0.47, 7.0 prior to 7.0.0.27, 8.0 prior to 8.0.0.6, and 8.5 prior to 8.5.0.2, creating a widespread impact across IBM's enterprise application server portfolio. The vulnerability resides in the administrative console interface which serves as the primary management tool for administrators to configure and monitor application server instances, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise server environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the administrative console's handling of user-supplied data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious web scripts or HTML content through unspecified vectors that bypass proper sanitization controls. This allows unauthorized individuals to execute arbitrary code within the context of the administrative console, potentially gaining elevated privileges and full control over the application server configuration. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the classic pattern of inadequate data validation in web interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a pathway to compromise entire application server environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could manipulate server configurations, access sensitive administrative functions, and potentially escalate privileges to gain full system control. The administrative console typically requires elevated permissions to access, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous as it would allow attackers to modify critical server settings, deploy malicious applications, or exfiltrate sensitive configuration data. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1566 for credential access through web application attacks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and hotfixes that address the XSS vulnerability in the administrative console. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to trusted networks only. Input validation mechanisms should be enhanced and output encoding should be implemented to prevent malicious script execution. Additionally, monitoring and logging of administrative console access should be increased to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the risks associated with exposing administrative interfaces to untrusted networks, as highlighted by industry best practices in secure web application development and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.