CVE-2019-4663 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Application Server - Liberty is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM X-Force ID: 171245.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2024
IBM WebSphere Application Server - Liberty contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application server's web presentation layer. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields or parameters that are subsequently rendered in the web interface without proper sanitization. The vulnerability specifically affects the Liberty profile implementation of the WebSphere Application Server, which is commonly used for deploying enterprise web applications in production environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector typically involves an attacker crafting malicious input that gets stored or reflected in the web application's response, enabling the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser context. This weakness creates a persistent threat where the injected code can manipulate the user interface, capture user interactions, or establish covert communication channels with attacker-controlled servers. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it can be exploited to hijack user sessions, steal authentication tokens, and access sensitive data within the trusted session context.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking attacks and credential theft within the context of authenticated user sessions. When users interact with the vulnerable web interface, their browsers execute the malicious JavaScript code, potentially leading to unauthorized access to corporate resources, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the application environment. The attack can be executed through various means including phishing campaigns, compromised web applications, or direct exploitation of the vulnerability in the WebSphere Liberty profile. This threat is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where WebSphere Application Server - Liberty is commonly deployed for critical business applications, as it can compromise the security posture of entire organizational systems.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including input validation, output encoding, and proper content security policy implementation. The recommended mitigations include enabling strict HTML escaping for all user-controllable inputs, implementing proper sanitization of web interface elements, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Security teams should also ensure that all WebSphere Liberty installations are updated to the latest security patches provided by IBM, as the vendor has addressed this vulnerability in subsequent releases. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their web applications to identify and remediate similar input validation flaws that could lead to similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The implementation of security awareness training for developers and administrators can also help prevent the introduction of such vulnerabilities during the application development lifecycle, following secure coding practices as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.