Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain low-privileged local access
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DeliveryIdentify writable dir early in PATH
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ExploitPlant malicious binary matching invoked command
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ExecutionPrivileged process executes attacker binary
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ImpactGain elevated privileges
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A08:2025 - Software or Data Integrity Failures
ASVS 5.0
V13 - Configuration Search path verification
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| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires the attacker to already have local, low-privileged access to a host running IBM Aspera Enterprise WebApps 1.0.0 through 1.0.6, plus a writable directory that the misconfigured PATH environment variable searches before the trusted system paths. The limiting factors are significant: it is not remotely exploitable (AV:L), it needs valid local credentials or an existing foothold (PR:L), and it depends on the affected version running with the flawed PATH configuration - it cannot be triggered by an unauthenticated or purely remote attacker. No user interaction is required (UI:N) once local access is held. |
| Impact | This is a CVSS 7.8 (HIGH) local privilege-escalation flaw (CWE-426, untrusted/misconfigured PATH search path). The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N indicates an attacker needs existing local, low-privileged access to the host, but once present can escalate with low complexity and no user interaction to full C/I/A:H impact. No EPSS score, CISA KEV listing, or public POC was provided in the input, so there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and no evidence of active exploitation - this tempers the real-world priority well below internet-facing critical flaws. The score is driven entirely by local impact, not by remote reachability, so prioritization should be scoped to multi-user or shared hosts where untrusted local users exist. Note a tag conflict: the input tags this 'Information Disclosure', but CWE-426 plus the description ('gain elevated privileges') clearly describe privilege escalation, not disclosure - treat the tag as mislabeled. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A low-privileged local user on a host running IBM Aspera Enterprise WebApps (1.0.0-1.0.6) places a malicious executable in a writable directory that appears earlier in the misconfigured PATH than the legitimate binary. When a higher-privileged Aspera process or service invokes a command by name, it loads the attacker's binary and executes it with elevated privileges. No public POC was provided in the input, and exploitation requires pre-existing local access per the CVSS local attack vector. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Oct 12, 2026
Local privilege escalation in IBM Aspera Enterprise WebApps 1.0.0 through 1.0.6 stems from a misconfigured PATH environment variable (CWE-426) that lets a local attacker place a malicious executable in a directory searched before trusted system paths. Exploitation requires an existing low-privileged foothold on the host and a writable directory on the PATH, yielding high confidentiality, integrity and availability impact (CVSS 7.8, AV:L/PR:L/UI:N). No public exploit code and no confirmed active exploitation were identified at time of analysis; the vendor has published a fix.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patch: available per the IBM advisory at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7291755 - apply the fixed build (upgrade beyond the 1.0.0-1.0.6 range) as the primary remediation. Where immediate patching is not possible, treat the PATH variable as the compensating-control target: edit the service and shell profiles that launch Aspera Enterprise WebApps so PATH contains only root-owned, non-writable directories (for example /usr/bin, /bin) before any application-specific entries, removing any user-writable path such as a home directory, /tmp, or a project bin folder; the trade-off is that any legitimate tooling previously found on those paths must be moved to a trusted directory or invoked by absolute path. Additionally, remove write permission from the affected directories for unprivileged accounts and restrict local login and shell access on the Aspera hosts (AV:L and PR:L both require an existing local foothold), accepting the operational cost of tighter host access. Restarting the affected services after correcting PATH ensures child processes pick up the hardened environment. Monitor for unexpected binaries created in PATH-referenced directories as a detection measure, and verify the fix by confirming the installed version against the IBM advisory.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
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Technical ContextAI · show details
CWE-426 describes untrusted search path resolution: the affected software resolves an executable or library by searching the PATH environment variable without ensuring that only trusted, non-user-writable directories are honored. The affected CPE, cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aspera_enterprise_webapps:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, covers the whole 1.0.0-1.0.6 release line, so every version in that range running with the flawed PATH configuration is exposed. IBM Aspera Enterprise WebApps is a web-facing file transfer and management front end typically installed on server hosts alongside the Aspera high-speed transfer stack; the flaw matters because those hosts often run privileged backend services. The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H shows the attacker needs local access and valid low-privileged credentials but no user interaction, with low attack complexity once the writable-path condition exists, and that the resulting compromise stays within the same security scope while delivering high impact to all three security properties. The practical mechanism is executable hijacking: any process launched by the vulnerable component inherits the poisoned PATH and can be made to run attacker-controlled code under a more privileged identity.
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local attack vector and existing low-privilege foothold required (PR:L), low complexity PATH hijack, no scope change, yielding full host compromise (C/I/A:H).
Primary rating from Vendor (ibm).
CVSS VectorVendor: ibm
DescriptionCVE.org
IBM Aspera Enterprise WebApps 1.0.0 through 1.0.6 could allow a local attacker to gain elevated privileges due to a misconfigured PATH environment variable.
Executive ViewAI
IBM Aspera Enterprise WebApps versions 1.0.0 through 1.0.6 contain a local privilege escalation flaw that allows someone who already holds a low-privileged account on a host to gain high-level control over that system, putting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and services on the affected server at risk. Leadership should care because the prerequisite is an existing foothold, making this a force multiplier for insider misuse or post-compromise lateral movement on any server running the product. The vulnerability is rated HIGH (CVSS 7.8), there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis, and the vendor has released a fix, making this a prioritization and patch-scheduling matter rather than an emergency containment event.
Apply vendor patch.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
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