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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4365: IBM WebSphere Application Server 8.5 is vulnerable to server-side request forgery.

IBM WebSphere Application Server 8.5 is vulnerable to server-side request forgery. By sending a specially crafted request, a remote authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to obtain sensitive data. IBM X-Force ID: 178964.

MediumCVSS 5.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a medium-severity server-side request forgery issue in IBM WebSphere Application Server 8.5. A remote attacker could use a crafted request to make the server access unintended resources and potentially disclose sensitive data. The bundle does not show active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted remediation item, not an emergency by the provided evidence. Prioritize internet-facing or sensitive internal WebSphere 8.5 deployments because SSRF can expose data through trusted server-side access paths.

Technical view

CVE-2020-4365 describes SSRF in IBM WebSphere Application Server 8.5, tied to IBM X-Force ID 178964. The CVSS 3.0 score is 5.3 with low attack complexity, network attack vector, no user interaction, and low confidentiality impact.

Likely exposure

Organizations running IBM WebSphere Application Server 8.5 are the stated exposed population. Exposure depends on whether affected WebSphere services are reachable by remote users and whether the vulnerable component is present in the deployed level.

Exploitation context

The source bundle says a specially crafted request could obtain sensitive data. It does not provide exploit details, public exploitation evidence, or CISA KEV listing. The description says authenticated attacker, while the supplied CVSS vector lists PR:N; verify IBM guidance.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to CVE, IBM advisory, and X-Force references. No CWE is listed in the bundle. Do not assume broader WebSphere versions are affected. Resolve the authenticated-versus-PR:N inconsistency against IBM’s advisory before final risk scoring.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory node 6209099 for the vendor-designated fix level.
  • Apply IBM-recommended fixes or updates for WebSphere Application Server 8.5.
  • Restrict remote access to WebSphere interfaces while remediation is planned.
  • Monitor IBM X-Force ID 178964 for advisory updates.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory all IBM WebSphere Application Server deployments and identify version 8.5 instances.
  • Confirm whether each affected instance matches IBM advisory node 6209099.
  • Verify remediated systems no longer run the vulnerable WebSphere level.
  • Review server logs for unusual outbound requests from WebSphere hosts.
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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

Cloud metadata behavior lookup

The CVE wording references SSRF or metadata access, so cloud discovery and credential material review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-4365 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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

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

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.3Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4365Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/UI:N/S:U/AV:N/A:N/PR:N/C:L/AC:L/I:N/RC:C/RL:O/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 Server8.5Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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