CVE-2020-4589

IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system with a specially-crafted sequence…

High · published August 13, 2020

CVSS v3.0
8.1
EPSS
8%
Percentile
95.0
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A crafty sequence of serialized objects is the whole exploit here! IBM WebSphere Application Server is vulnerable across multiple versions, allowing remote attackers to run arbitrary code like a chef who gets to decide the secret ingredients. 🍽️ Think of it like allowing a food delivery service to bring a mystery box of ingredients into your kitchen without checking the label — the result could be anything from a delightful dish to a disastrous mess. In this case, serializing objects without verification is like letting untrusted delivery services surprise your chef! If an attacker pulls this off, they could take complete control of your system, executing unauthorized commands at will. That means they could access sensitive data, modify applications, or even shut down services entirely. Yikes! 🚨

Put simply

Think of it like allowing a food delivery service to bring a mystery box of ingredients into your kitchen without checking the label — the result could be anything from a delightful dish to a disastrous mess. In this case, serializing objects without verification is like letting untrusted delivery services surprise your chef! This vulnerability allows remote attackers to send specially-crafted sequences of serialized objects to the IBM WebSphere Application Server, which could result in arbitrary code execution due to insufficient input validation. Versions affected include 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0, making it critical for system administrators.

What to do

If an attacker pulls this off, they could take complete control of your system, executing unauthorized commands at will. That means they could access sensitive data, modify applications, or even shut down services entirely. Yikes! 🚨 To protect your systems, patch to the latest version of IBM WebSphere Application Server as soon as possible. Ensure that you validate and sanitize any inputs from untrusted sources, and consider implementing security measures such as application firewalls. 🛡️ You're on the path to securing your environment! With these steps, you'll lock down your WebSphere Application Server and keep those pesky intruders at bay. You've got this! 💪🙂

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.0
8.1 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.0/PR:N/I:H/C:H/A:H/UI:N/AC:H/S:U/AV:N/RC:C/E:U/RL:O
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.08465 · 95.0th percentile
Published
2020-08-13T11:50Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 13 AUG 11:50Z
    IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system with a specially-crafted sequence…
    cvelistv5