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CVE Record

CVE-2019-4268: IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 could allow a remote attacker to traverse directori...

IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 could allow a remote attacker to traverse directories on the system. An attacker could send a specially-crafted URL containing "dot dot" sequences (/../) to view arbitrary files on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 160201.

MediumCVSS 5.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2019-4268 is a directory traversal issue in IBM WebSphere Application Server. A remote unauthenticated attacker could use a crafted URL to read files on the server. The cited CVSS score is medium, but business impact depends on what sensitive files the affected server can access.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate-priority exposure management item. It is not cited as actively exploited, but unauthenticated file disclosure on an application server can expose secrets, configuration, or data that supports later compromise.

Technical view

IBM reports affected WebSphere Application Server versions 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0. The issue allows remote directory traversal and arbitrary file viewing. CVSS 3.0 is 5.3 with network access, low attack complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, low confidentiality impact, and no integrity or availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where affected WebSphere Application Server versions are reachable over a network, especially internet-facing deployments or internal applications with broad user access.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not cite active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked as CISA KEV. Exploitation is described as remote and unauthenticated, but the available evidence supports file disclosure risk rather than system takeover.

Researcher notes

The bundle identifies arbitrary file read via directory traversal, but does not include CWE mapping or detailed fixed build levels. Use IBM’s advisory and X-Force entry as the authoritative sources for affected-version and remediation confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 deployments.
  • Review IBM advisory 884030 for version-specific fixes or interim fixes.
  • Prioritize internet-facing and sensitive-data-hosting WebSphere systems first.
  • Restrict network access where affected systems cannot be remediated immediately.
  • Confirm operational change windows for legacy WebSphere versions.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory WebSphere Application Server versions across production and non-production environments.
  • Check whether any affected versions remain exposed to untrusted networks.
  • Verify remediation status against IBM advisory 884030.
  • Review application and web logs for directory traversal indicators.
  • Document compensating controls if vendor remediation is delayed.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2019-4268 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.3 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:N/PR:N/C:L/AV:N/AC:L/S:U/A:N/UI:N/RL:O/RC:C/E:U

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.3CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/I:N/PR:N/C:L/AV:N/AC:L/S:U/A:N/UI:N/RL:O/RC:C/E:U3.91.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2019-4268Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/I:N/PR:N/C:L/AV:N/AC:L/S:U/A:N/UI:N/RL:O/RC:C/E:U

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
IBMWebSphere Application Server7.0, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.