CVE-2013-0597 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 7.0 before 7.0.0.29, 8.0 before 8.0.0.7, and 8.5 before 8.5.5.0, when OAuth is used, allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0597 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Application Server versions prior to specific patches. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the application server utilizes OAuth authentication mechanisms, creating a dangerous attack surface for authenticated remote adversaries. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability affects multiple major versions including WebSphere Application Server 7.0 before 7.0.0.29, 8.0 before 8.0.0.7, and 8.5 before 8.5.5.0, indicating a widespread impact across the product line. The vulnerability's exploitation requires authentication, yet the attack vector remains unspecified, suggesting the flaw could be leveraged through various application interfaces or API endpoints that process user input during OAuth workflows.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the WebSphere Application Server's OAuth handling components. When users authenticate through OAuth mechanisms, the server processes various parameters and user-provided data that may not be properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. This failure to implement proper sanitization techniques creates opportunities for attackers to embed malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of how authentication mechanisms can introduce new attack vectors when not properly secured against injection attacks. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could potentially be exploited through multiple pathways within the OAuth implementation, including authorization redirects, token handling, or user interface components that process OAuth responses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An authenticated attacker with access to the WebSphere Application Server could craft malicious requests that, when processed by the server, would execute in the browser context of other users. This creates a persistent threat where compromised user sessions could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive applications and data. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using WebSphere as their primary application server for enterprise applications, especially those implementing OAuth for third-party authentication or single sign-on capabilities. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access restricted resources, or perform actions as authenticated users within the application environment. The risk is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects multiple major versions, meaning organizations with legacy deployments face significant exposure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for WebSphere Application Server versions 7.0.0.29, 8.0.0.7, and 8.5.5.0, which address the input validation and output encoding issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit unauthorized access to the application server, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. Input validation should be strengthened across all OAuth-related components, and proper output encoding should be implemented for all user-provided data. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual authentication patterns or script injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of securing authentication mechanisms, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through various attack vectors including web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to mitigate the impact of potential XSS exploitation, while conducting thorough security assessments of all OAuth implementations to identify similar vulnerabilities in custom or third-party components.