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WebSphere Application Server CVE-2026-93907

| EUVDEUVD-2026-98688 HIGH
Improper Authentication (CWE-287)
2026-10-13 ibm GHSA-wrqm-vfgr-mwmm
8.1
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: ibm
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Reach CSIv2 inbound IIOP listener
  2. Delivery
    Craft malicious propagation token
  3. Exploit
    Bypass CSIv2 authentication handler
  4. Execution
    Assume trusted identity
  5. Impact
    Access protected application resources

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Authentication mechanism validation
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Defense Evasion, Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires network access to the target's CSIv2 inbound (IIOP) communication path and that CSIv2 inbound identity propagation is in use on WebSphere Application Server 8.5 or 9.0; the flaw resides specifically in the CSIv2 inbound propagation handler's processing of incoming identity/authentication data. Limiting factors: the CVSS AC:H indicates exploitation depends on specific, non-default conditions in the CSIv2 propagation flow rather than a trivially repeatable request, so environments not exposing or not relying on CSIv2 inbound security are less exposed; no user interaction is required (UI:N) and no prior authentication is needed (PR:N).

Impact

This is a genuine high-priority issue, though not a drop-everything emergency. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N) describes a network-reachable, unauthenticated (PR:N) authentication bypass with full CIA impact (C:H/I:H/A:H), producing the 8.1 HIGH score. The single mitigating metric is AC:H - high attack complexity - which signals that success depends on specific, non-trivial conditions (e.g. particular CSIv2 configuration states or timing/token-crafting precision) rather than a trivially repeatable request. No EPSS score, no SSVC decision data, and no CISA KEV listing are present in the input, and no public exploit is referenced, so there is no evidence of active or automatable exploitation at this time - the risk is driven by the inherent severity of an auth bypass in an enterprise application server, not by observed attacker activity. The strongest conflicting/uncertain signal: AC:H tempers the otherwise alarming 'unauthenticated remote full-compromise' profile, suggesting exploitation is feasible but conditional. A vendor patch IS confirmed available, so remediation is actionable. Net: prioritize patching internet- or network-exposed WebSphere 8.5/9.0 instances using CSIv2 inbound security, but the lack of KEV/EPSS/POC signals indicates this is not yet mass-exploited.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker with network reachability to a WebSphere CSIv2 inbound (IIOP) listener crafts malicious inbound identity/propagation data that the CSIv2 handler mishandles, bypassing authentication and gaining access as a trusted identity. The high attack complexity (AC:H) means the attacker must satisfy specific preconditions in the CSIv2 propagation flow for the bypass to succeed. No public exploit code is identified in the provided data.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026

Improper authentication in the CSIv2 inbound propagation handler of IBM WebSphere Application Server 8.5 and 9.0 lets remote, unauthenticated attackers bypass authentication and have forged identity data accepted into the server-side security context, with high confidentiality and integrity impact (CVSS 3.1 base 8.1, AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). Exploitation is not trivial - it requires network reachability to the CSIv2/IIOP inbound path and a deployment that actually relies on CSIv2 inbound identity propagation, which is what the AC:H metric reflects - and no public exploit identified at time of analysis. IBM has published a vendor fix, so this is best treated as a genuine high-priority issue rather than a drop-everything emergency, with prioritization going to internet- or partner-exposed CSIv2 listeners.

RemediationAI

Patch available per vendor advisory: IBM has published a fix for CVE-2026-93907 at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7292216 covering WebSphere Application Server 8.5 and 9.0 - apply the interim fix or fix pack level IBM specifies for your branch from that bulletin, since the data provided here does not include an exact fix pack number and none should be assumed. If patching must be deferred, the most effective compensating control is to restrict network access to the ORB/IIOP (CSIv2) listener ports to trusted hosts only, using firewalls or WebSphere transport/channel-chain SSL configuration; the trade-off is that legitimate remote EJB/CORBA clients outside the allowed address ranges will no longer connect. Where propagated identity is not genuinely required by application code, disabling CSIv2 inbound propagation removes the vulnerable processing path entirely, at the cost of breaking EJB security propagation and run-as/token-based flows. Strengthening inbound CSIv2 authentication requirements, such as requiring SSL client-certificate authentication and validating trusted realms on inbound connections, adds defense in depth but does not replace the vendor fix and can break loosely coupled partner integrations that cannot present certificates. Apply the fix using IBM's standard interim-fix/Update Installer process and restart the affected nodes to ensure the handler is replaced in memory.

Affected VersionsENISA

WebSphere Application Server 9.0
WebSphere Application Server 8.5

Affected Packages

euvd websphere_application_server no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

CSIv2 (Common Secure Interoperability Version 2) is the OMG CORBA security specification that carries authentication and identity-propagation tokens over IIOP between CORBA/Java EE clients and application servers. In WebSphere, the CSIv2 inbound propagation handler is the component that accepts a caller's propagated security context - such as GSSUP username/password tokens, ITTPrincipalToken, or certificate-derived identity - and maps it into the server-side subject used for authorization decisions. The assigned CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) points to a failure in that handler to correctly validate incoming identity/authentication data before establishing the caller's identity, allowing a crafted inbound propagation request to be treated as an authenticated principal. The provided CPE, cpe:2.3:a:ibm:websphere_application_server:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, is unversioned and the vendor bulletin covers both the 8.5 and 9.0 branches. The AC:H rating is consistent with the fact that the attacker must reach an exposed ORB/IIOP listener and the target must have CSIv2 inbound propagation enabled so that a propagation flow exists to abuse; PR:N and UI:N mean no credentials and no user action are required once those conditions are met.

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Severity by source

Vendor (ibm) PRIMARY 8.1 HIGH
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 8.1 HIGH

Network-reachable CSIv2 handler needs no prior auth (PR:N), but the bypass depends on specific propagation-flow conditions (AC:H); a successful auth bypass yields full C/I/A on the server.

3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (ibm).

CVSS VectorVendor: ibm

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

IBM WebSphere Application Server 8.5, and 9.0 could allow a remote attacker to bypass authentication by exploiting a flaw in the CSIv2 inbound propagation handler.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

IBM WebSphere Application Server versions 8.5 and 9.0 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to forge identity data and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and system functions. Organizations using these versions with CSIv2 inbound identity propagation enabled-particularly on internet- or partner-facing deployments-are at risk of data breaches and integrity compromise. Leadership should prioritize patching to protect critical business applications and maintain compliance with security standards.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 74% exploitable
Prevalence
High
widely-deployed enterprise Java application server across large organizations
Social Media
1
Sightings
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium

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.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.3%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

40
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +40
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

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