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Researchers disclosed multiple vulnerabilities in HCL WebSphere Portal, now HCL Digital Experience, including CVE-2021-27748, that could allow unauthenticated attackers to make arbitrary server-side requests and read full HTTP responses. Default proxy routes trusted selected IBM domains, but a Lotus Domino open redirect on redbooks.ibm.com could reportedly be chained to reach arbitrary targets, including internal services and cloud metadata endpoints. Additional PA_WCM_Authoring_UI and Quickr Document Picker endpoints allegedly enabled pre-authentication full-read SSRF, with the former supporting multiple methods, request bodies, and selected headers.
The researchers also reported a post-authentication flaw in Script Application ZIP imports: directory traversal during extraction could enable arbitrary file upload and, on affected Linux deployments, potential root remote code execution after reboot. Assetnote said it submitted six reports to HCL Technologies beginning September 2021, but reported that the vendor had neither reproduced the findings nor supplied remediation or CVE assignments before the researchers' 90-day disclosure deadline. Organizations running WebSphere Portal/Digital Experience should identify exposed instances, restrict access to proxy and administration endpoints, and validate vendor patch status and mitigations.
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Assetnote stated that its 90-day disclosure period ended without HCL providing remediation or assigning CVEs for the reported issues.
Assetnote reported receiving no further response from HCL Technologies after this date, despite reminders about the approaching 90-day disclosure deadline.
HCL Technologies told the researchers it could not reproduce the reported WebSphere Portal vulnerabilities and said CVEs would not be filed until remediation steps were available.
HCL Technologies initially responded that the vulnerability reports had been submitted to its product teams.
Assetnote Security Research Team submitted six SSRF and post-authentication RCE reports to HCL Technologies.
HCL published a security bulletin stating that multiple vulnerabilities affect HCL Digital Experience and identifying CVE-2021-27748 and CVE-2021-3765.
Assetnote researchers identified multiple unauthenticated full-read SSRF paths in HCL WebSphere Portal/Digital Experience, including redirect-chain and direct proxy routes, plus a post-authentication ZIP extraction directory-traversal issue that could enable arbitrary file writes and potential root RCE after reboot on affected Linux systems.
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IBM disclosed a critical `CVE-2026-8633` vulnerability in WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere Liberty deployments that use the optional **Web Server Plug-ins** component, warning that unauthenticated attackers can send specially crafted HTTP requests to execute arbitrary commands on the host. The flaw, classified as improper control of code generation (`CWE-94`) and rated `CVSS 9.8`, affects WebSphere Application Server traditional and Liberty versions `8.5` and `9.0`, with successful exploitation potentially leading to full system compromise. IBM also patched `CVE-2026-8620`, an HTTP request smuggling issue that could let attackers bypass security controls and manipulate backend communications in affected environments. The company said both issues are addressed through **APAR `PH71342`** and related fix packs, and advised administrators to apply the fixes, validate updates in non-production environments, monitor HTTP traffic, restrict exposure of plug-in endpoints, use WAF protections, and perform threat hunting for signs of exploitation.
Jun 29, 2026
IBM disclosed two vulnerabilities in traditional **IBM WebSphere Application Server** affecting versions **9.0** and **8.5**, led by **CVE-2026-14512**, a **pre-authentication unsafe deserialization** flaw rated **CVSS 9.8**. The issue could allow a remote attacker to **bypass authentication** or achieve **arbitrary code execution** without user interaction, creating a high-risk path to full compromise of exposed WebSphere environments. IBM also identified **CVE-2026-14528**, a **CVSS 7.4** flaw that could expose sensitive information through insertion into log files. The company directed customers to apply the interim fix for **APAR PH72166** or upgrade to **Fix Pack 9.0.5.29+** for WebSphere 9.0 and **Fix Pack 8.5.5.31+** for WebSphere 8.5, and said **no workarounds or mitigations are available**.
Jul 29, 2026
IBM disclosed multiple high-severity vulnerabilities affecting **WebSphere** and **webMethods Integration Server**, exposing enterprise middleware environments to remote compromise. In WebSphere, the reported issues include remote code execution flaws tracked as `CVE-2026-9311`, `CVE-2026-9330`, and `CVE-2026-9319`, alongside an authentication bypass and identity spoofing issue, `CVE-2026-8644`. Affected deployments include traditional WebSphere versions **9.0** and **8.5**, with IBM issuing interim fixes through specific APARs and urging administrators to verify configurations and apply patches quickly. A separate IBM advisory covers **webMethods Integration Server** `CVE-2025-36072`, a deserialization-based remote code execution flaw that can be exploited by an authenticated attacker with service execution privileges through internal APIs or protocols such as `IDataBin`. The vulnerability affects versions **10.11** through `10.11_Core_Fix22`, **10.15** through `10.15_Core_Fix22`, and **11.1** through `11.1_Core_Fix6` if they have not received the latest core fixes. Successful exploitation could allow arbitrary code execution in the Integration Server process, enabling lateral movement, persistence, and data exfiltration across business-critical systems.
Jun 29, 2026