CVE-2014-0896 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) Liberty Profile 8.5.x before 8.5.5.2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0896 affects IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile version 8.5.x prior to 8.5.5.2, representing a significant information disclosure weakness that could enable remote attackers to extract sensitive data from affected systems. This vulnerability resides within the server's processing of specially crafted HTTP requests, where improper input validation leads to unauthorized data exposure. The issue stems from the application server's failure to adequately sanitize or validate incoming request parameters, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the server into revealing confidential information.
The technical flaw manifests through the Liberty Profile's handling of malformed or crafted requests that exploit insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web server's request processing pipeline. When an attacker submits a specially constructed request to the affected IBM WebSphere Application Server, the server's inadequate security controls fail to properly filter or reject the malicious input, resulting in the exposure of sensitive information. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data can lead to information disclosure attacks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard network protocols without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed sensitive data could include system configurations, user credentials, application source code, or other confidential information that could be leveraged for further attacks. Attackers could potentially use the leaked information to conduct more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation, lateral movement within the network, or targeted attacks against specific application components. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or network proximity, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the application server is accessible from external networks. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, Information Discovery, where adversaries gather information about the target system to plan subsequent operations.
Organizations running affected IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile versions should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM patches and updates. The vulnerability requires patching to ensure proper input validation is implemented and that the server's request handling mechanisms properly sanitize all incoming data. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and network segmentation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues within the broader application environment, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation across all application components. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications while maintaining the security improvements necessary to protect against this information disclosure threat.