CVE-2013-6323 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Administration Console in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 7.x before 7.0.0.33, 8.x before 8.0.0.9, and 8.5.x before 8.5.5.2, and WebSphere Virtual Enterprise 7.x before 7.0.0.5, allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The CVE-2013-6323 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Application Server administration consoles across multiple versions. This vulnerability affects IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.x prior to 7.0.0.33, 8.x prior to 8.0.0.9, 8.5.x prior to 8.5.5.2, and WebSphere Virtual Enterprise 7.x prior to 7.0.0.5, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these platforms for enterprise application deployment and management. The flaw specifically resides in the administration console component that handles URL processing, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to compromise web application environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the administration console's URL handling mechanism. When authenticated users navigate to specially crafted URLs containing malicious script payloads, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web interface. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes within the context of other users' sessions, effectively bypassing the security boundaries that should protect administrative interfaces. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack vector, where malicious content is reflected back to users through the application's response, as defined by CWE-79 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, presenting a severe threat to enterprise security infrastructure. An authenticated attacker with access to the administration console can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The attack requires only authenticated access, which means that any user with legitimate administrative privileges could become a vector for exploitation. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where compromised accounts can be used to escalate privileges or conduct further reconnaissance. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1531 for credential stuffing attacks, as it enables unauthorized access to administrative functions.
Organizations affected by CVE-2013-6323 should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates for their specific WebSphere versions. The recommended approach involves upgrading to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory, which include WebSphere Application Server 7.0.0.33, 8.0.0.9, and 8.5.5.2, along with the corresponding WebSphere Virtual Enterprise 7.0.0.5 release. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at the application level, enforcing strict URL sanitization, and deploying web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative console access patterns should also be considered to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering or compromised credentials. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched environments to ensure compatibility and prevent service disruption while maintaining security posture against this specific XSS vulnerability.