The default installation of the IBM WebSphere Application Server is deployed with a 'help' servlet which is designed to serve supporting documentation for the WebSphere system. When the 'help' servlet processes a URL that contains a reference to a Java plug-in Bundle that is registered with the Eclipse Platform Runtime Environment of the WebSphere Application Server, the 'help' servlet fails to ensure that the submitted URL refers to a file that is both located within the web root of the servlet and is of a type that is allowed to be served. An unauthenticated remote attacker can use this weakness in the 'help' servlet to retrieve arbitrary system files from the host that is running the 'help' servlet. This can be accomplished by submitting a URL which refers to a registered Java plug-in Bundle followed by a relative path to the desired file.
4adf33603b356ff3b73d86dd885c7fef8b16304d70e5775f89788b5d0609f5d3
Title
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DDIVRT-2011-33 IBM WebSphere Application Server 'help' Servlet Plug-in Bundle Directory Traversal [CVE-2011-1359]
Severity
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High
Date Discovered
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July 28, 2011
Discovered By
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Digital Defense, Inc. Vulnerability Research Team
Credit: Javier Castro, sxkeebler and r@b13$
Vulnerability Description
-------------------------
The default installation of the IBM WebSphere Application Server is
deployed with a 'help' servlet which is designed to serve supporting
documentation for the WebSphere system. When the 'help' servlet
processes a URL that contains a reference to a Java plug-in Bundle
that is registered with the Eclipse Platform Runtime Environment of
the WebSphere Application Server, the 'help' servlet fails to ensure
that the submitted URL refers to a file that is both located within the
web root of the servlet and is of a type that is allowed to be served.
An unauthenticated remote attacker can use this weakness in the
'help' servlet to retrieve arbitrary system files from the host that
is running the 'help' servlet. This can be accomplished by submitting
a URL which refers to a registered Java plug-in Bundle followed by a
relative path to the desired file.
Solution Description
--------------------
IBM has released a patch for this issue. The patch is available through APAR PM45322.
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21509257
Tested Systems / Software (with versions)
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WebSphere Application Server Version 8.0
WebSphere Application Server Version 7.0
WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1
Vendor Contact
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Vendor Name: IBM
Vendor Website: http://www-01.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/was/library/