XML external entity injection in IBM WebSphere Application Server
Priority MEDIUM 40CWE-611Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · Low
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
IBM WebSphere Application Server 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 is vulnerable to a XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 196648.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.02463 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 | 8.0; 8.5; 9.0 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- WebSphere Application Server VendorIBM Affected 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:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0.0.0 to before 8.0.0.15; 8.5.0.0 to before 8.5.5.20; 9.0.0.0 to before 9.0.5.8 | Vulnerable | IBM |
- cpe:2.3:a:ibm:websphere_application_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0.0.0 to before 8.0.0.15; 8.5.0.0 to before 8.5.5.20; 9.0.0.0 to before 9.0.5.8 Vulnerable ·IBM
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-20453
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jc43-h2gq-6j6c
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-2021-20453 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-20453 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jc43-h2gq-6j6c · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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