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CVE Record

CVE-2019-4442: 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 file system. An attacker could send a specially-crafted URL request to view arbitrary files on the system but not content. IBM X-Force ID: 163226.

MediumCVSS 4.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2019-4442 is a directory traversal flaw in IBM WebSphere Application Server. A low-privileged remote attacker could send a crafted URL request and gain limited visibility into arbitrary files on the host. The cited data indicates low confidentiality impact, no integrity or availability impact, and no confirmed active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate priority unless affected WebSphere systems are internet-facing or support sensitive business workflows. It is not currently evidenced as actively exploited, but legacy WebSphere exposure can create avoidable information disclosure risk.

Technical view

IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 are listed as affected. CVSS v3.0 is 4.3 with network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and low confidentiality impact. The bundle does not provide exploit details, CWE mapping, or specific fix levels.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant for organizations still running affected WebSphere Application Server versions, especially where authenticated application access is reachable over a network. Internet-facing deployments increase business concern, but the source data requires low privileges and reports limited confidentiality impact.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not marked as CISA KEV, and the provided sources do not claim active exploitation. The known attack condition is a specially crafted URL request from a low-privileged remote attacker. Evidence is insufficient to assess public exploit availability from this bundle.

Researcher notes

The main uncertainty is the exact remediation detail: the source bundle links IBM support and X-Force entries but does not include patch identifiers or workaround text. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the stated low-privileged, crafted URL request and low confidentiality impact.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 deployments.
  • Check IBM advisory guidance for applicable fixes or supported upgrade paths.
  • Prioritize remediation for internet-facing or broadly accessible WebSphere instances.
  • Restrict WebSphere access to trusted users and networks where business permits.
  • Monitor application logs for unusual path traversal or file access patterns.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm WebSphere version and fix level against IBM’s referenced advisory.
  • Map affected servers to internet-facing and internal exposure tiers.
  • Verify low-privileged users cannot access unintended file metadata or file paths.
  • Review recent logs for suspicious crafted URL requests.
  • Document remediation status and compensating controls per environment.
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-2019-4442 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.3 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
4.3CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/PR:L/I:N/C:L/AV:N/S:U/AC:L/A:N/UI:N/E:U/RC:C/RL:O2.81.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

4.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2019-4442Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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.