CVE-2013-5425 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Administration Console in IBM WebSphere Virtual Enterprise 6.1 before 6.1.1.6 and 7.0 before 7.0.0.4 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5425 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Virtual Enterprise Administration Console components. This security weakness affects versions 6.1 prior to 6.1.1.6 and 7.0 prior to 7.0.0.4, exposing organizations to potential exploitation by remote authenticated attackers who can manipulate the system through carefully crafted URL parameters. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the administrative interface, creating an attack surface where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed in the context of authenticated user sessions. The flaw specifically targets the Administration Console functionality, which serves as the primary management interface for configuring and monitoring virtual enterprise environments, making it a particularly attractive target for adversaries seeking to compromise administrative privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users navigate to specially crafted URLs that contain malicious script payloads within their parameters. These payloads are then processed by the Administration Console without proper sanitization, allowing the injected code to execute in the browser context of the authenticated user. The XSS vector operates through the manipulation of URL parameters that are subsequently rendered within the web interface, bypassing standard security controls designed to prevent such code injection attacks. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting, where adversaries leverage web-based attack vectors to execute malicious code. The flaw demonstrates a classic insufficient sanitization issue where user-supplied data flows directly into web output without appropriate encoding or validation measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to potentially escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions. Authenticated users who visit the malicious URLs could have their sessions hijacked, allowing attackers to perform administrative actions on behalf of legitimate users. This capability significantly undermines the security posture of WebSphere Virtual Enterprise deployments, as it can be exploited to modify system configurations, access confidential data, or even establish persistent backdoors within the enterprise infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations using IBM WebSphere Virtual Enterprise in production environments where administrative access is required, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data breaches. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to conduct reconnaissance, extract sensitive information, or manipulate virtual enterprise configurations to disrupt business operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates that address this vulnerability in WebSphere Virtual Enterprise versions 6.1.1.6 and 7.0.0.4. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit administrative access to trusted networks and users only. Input validation mechanisms should be enhanced to sanitize all user-supplied data, particularly URL parameters, before processing within the Administration Console. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications within the enterprise environment. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and output encoding controls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar XSS vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the applied patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications and configurations. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious URL patterns and unauthorized administrative activities that may indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.