CVE-2020-4163Network attack vector

Authenticated code execution via JSP filename misclassification

Published Feb 4, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Command execution in IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute JSP content. Under specialized conditions, the server misinterprets a maliciously crafted filename as JSP content and executes it; IBM has not identified the responsible file-creation path. Successful exploitation requires authenticated access and those specialized conditions, and grants code execution with the application server process's access.

CVSS severity6.6
Medium
EPSS probability1.55%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command execution in IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute JSP content. Under specialized conditions, the server misinterprets a maliciously crafted filename as JSP content and executes it; IBM has not identified the responsible file-creation path. Successful exploitation requires authenticated access and those specialized conditions, and grants code execution with the application server process's access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4163
Published
Feb 4, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM WebSphere Application Server
Classifications
T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 4, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=7.0
  2. Affected versionversion=8.0
  3. Affected versionversion=8.5
  4. Affected versionversion=9.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM WebSphere Application Serverversion=7.0; version=8.0; version=8.5; version=9.0

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.6IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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