Path traversal in IBM WebSphere Application Server
Priority LOW 34CWE-22Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-22 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 could allow a remote attacker to traverse directories on the system. When application security is disabled and JAX-RPC applications are present, an attacker could send a specially-crafted URL request containing "dot dot" sequences (/../) to view arbitrary xml files on the system. This does not occur if Application security is enabled. IBM X-Force ID: 193556.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.02497 84th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBM | WebSphere Application Server | 7.0; 8.0; 8.5; 9.0 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- WebSphere Application Server VendorIBM Affected 7.0; 8.0; 8.5; 9.0 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:ibm:websphere_application_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0.0.0 – 7.0.0.45; 8.0.0.0 – 8.0.0.15; 8.5.0.0 – 8.5.5.19; 9.0.0.0 – 9.0.5.6 | Vulnerable | IBM |
- cpe:2.3:a:ibm:websphere_application_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0.0.0 – 7.0.0.45; 8.0.0.0 – 8.0.0.15; 8.5.0.0 – 8.5.5.19; 9.0.0.0 – 9.0.5.6 Vulnerable ·IBM
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-5016
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-whgp-r3rj-vmxr
References
More IBM Websphere Application Server vulnerabilities
- TI-2015-06198 Serialized-object interfaces in certain IBM analytics, business solutions, cognitive, IT… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2010-00403 modules/arch/win32/mod_isapi.c in mod_isapi in the Apache HTTP Server 2.0.37 through… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2019-03185 Deserialization of untrusted data in IBM WebSphere Application Server CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-03809 Deserialization of untrusted data in IBM WebSphere Application Server CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-24648 IBM WebSphere Application Server code execution CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-03807 Deserialization of untrusted data in IBM WebSphere Application Server CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2020-5016 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-5016 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-whgp-r3rj-vmxr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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