WebSphere Application Server - Liberty: Missing Cryptographic Step
CVE-2026-101294 is a high-severity missing cryptographic step vulnerability in WebSphere Application Server - Liberty from IBM, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.7 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 26.0.0.10. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.21% 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
- Check which version of WebSphere Application Server - Liberty you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- 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 26.0.0.10 | Not stated |
| IBM | WebSphere Application Server | 8.5; 9.0 | Not stated |
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
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (us.ibm.com).
Official description
IBM WebSphere Application Server - Liberty 17.0.0.3 through 26.0.0.10 and IBM WebSphere Application Server 8.5, and 9.0 could allow a remote attacker to bypass cryptographic signature verification due to improper verification of cryptographic signature.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Cryptographic Step
The product does not implement a required step in a cryptographic algorithm, resulting in weaker encryption than advertised by the algorithm.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
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 Missing Cryptographic Step vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.0 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
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