CVE-2013-5418 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 7.0.0.31, 8.0 before 8.0.0.8, and 8.5 before 8.5.5.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2021
The CVE-2013-5418 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 WAS 7.0 prior to 7.0.0.31, WAS 8.0 prior to 8.0.0.8, and WAS 8.5 prior to 8.5.5.1. The flaw resides in the administrative console's handling of URL parameters, specifically when processing user-supplied input without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access to exploit, meaning that an attacker with valid credentials could leverage this weakness to execute malicious scripts against other users within the same administrative context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the administrative console's URL parameter processing logic. When authenticated users navigate to specific administrative pages or perform certain operations, the application fails to properly sanitize user-provided URL parameters before rendering them in web responses. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other authenticated users who visit the affected pages. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter - JavaScript. The flaw essentially creates a persistent XSS vector where malicious payloads can be stored and executed whenever legitimate users access the affected administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5418 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect users to malicious sites. Since the vulnerability operates within the administrative console, successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain access to sensitive system configurations, user credentials, or other privileged information. The attack surface is particularly broad because the administrative console typically provides access to critical system functions and data that would otherwise be protected from regular users. The vulnerability also poses significant risk to organizations that rely on WebSphere for enterprise application hosting, as it could potentially compromise entire application server infrastructures if attackers can maintain access through the compromised administrative sessions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected IBM WebSphere Application Server versions to the recommended security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation controls, output encoding for all user-supplied data, and regular security assessments of administrative interfaces. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the scope of potential exploitation, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive input validation across all application components, particularly those handling privileged user interactions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and additional security monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting administrative console interfaces.