WebSphere Application Server Liberty: Privilege Chaining
CVE-2025-36124 is a high-severity privilege chaining vulnerability in WebSphere Application Server Liberty from IBM, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected WebSphere Application Server Liberty versions: 17.0.0.3 through 25.0.0.8. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.47% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Websphere Application Server to 25.0.0.9 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on ibm.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBM | WebSphere Application Server Liberty | 17.0.0.3 through 25.0.0.8 | Not stated |
| IBM | Websphere Application Server | 17.0.0.3 up to, but not including, 25.0.0.9 | 25.0.0.9 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 5.9 | Medium | CNA (us.ibm.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty 17.0.0.3 through 25.0.0.8 could allow a remote attacker to bypass security restrictions caused by a failure to honor JMS messaging configuration
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Privilege Chaining
Two distinct privileges, roles, capabilities, or rights can be combined in a way that allows an entity to perform unsafe actions that would not be allowed without that combination.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Run your code using the lowest privileges that are required to accomplish the necessary tasks. If possible, create isolated accounts with limited privileges that are only used for a single task. That way, a successful attack will not immediately give the attacker access to the rest of the software or its environment. For example, database applications rarely need to run as the database administrator, especially in day-to-day operations.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in WebSphere Application Server Liberty
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Privilege Chaining vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.