CVE-2013-4005 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 7.0.0.31, 8.0 before 8.0.0.7, and 8.5 before 8.5.5.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2021
The CVE-2013-4005 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 7.0.0.31, 8.0 prior to 8.0.0.7, and 8.5 prior to 8.5.5.1. The flaw exists in the administrative console interface which serves as the primary management point for administrators to configure and monitor the application server. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it targets the very interface that legitimate administrators use to manage critical server functions, creating a direct attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors with valid authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the administrative console's handling of user-supplied data. Attackers with authenticated access can exploit unspecified fields within the console to inject malicious scripts or HTML content that will be executed in the context of other administrators who view the affected pages. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and more precisely aligns with CWE-798 which deals with exposure of hardcoded credentials, though the primary classification remains the standard XSS vulnerability. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that administrators typically have elevated privileges and access to sensitive server configurations, making successful exploitation potentially devastating.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a means to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the application server environment. When an authenticated administrator visits a page containing malicious code injected through this vulnerability, the script executes in their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect administrators to malicious sites. This represents a significant threat to the integrity and confidentiality of the application server environment, as the administrative console often contains sensitive configuration data, user management controls, and system monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through compromised administrative sessions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies focusing on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches for each affected version, as IBM released specific fixes for this vulnerability in their respective maintenance releases. Additionally, administrators should implement strict input validation measures and output encoding for all user-supplied data within the administrative console, particularly focusing on fields that accept configuration parameters or user-generated content. Network segmentation and privileged access controls should be reinforced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, while regular security audits and monitoring of administrative console access logs should be implemented to detect anomalous activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege enforcement, ensuring that administrative accounts are only granted necessary permissions and that regular security training is provided to administrators regarding the risks of XSS attacks and the importance of secure coding practices within application interfaces.