CVE-2020-4448Network attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via unsafe object deserialization

Published Jun 5, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Unsafe deserialization in IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 allows remote attackers to execute code. BroadcastMessageManager fails to validate user-supplied serialized object sequences before deserializing them. Exploitation requires no authentication and runs attacker-controlled code with SYSTEM privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability12.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unsafe deserialization in IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 allows remote attackers to execute code. BroadcastMessageManager fails to validate user-supplied serialized object sequences before deserializing them. Exploitation requires no authentication and runs attacker-controlled code with SYSTEM privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-4448
Published
Jun 5, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM WebSphere Application Server
Classifications
CWE-502, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 5, 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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

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

Published CVSS scores

9.8IBMCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
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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