CVE-2020-5016Network attack vector

XML file disclosure via URL path traversal

Published Mar 10, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Directory traversal in IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 allows remote authenticated users to read XML files. The server processes crafted JAX-RPC URL paths containing /../ sequences without preventing traversal to arbitrary XML files. Application security must be disabled and a JAX-RPC application present; enabled application security blocks this access.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability2.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Directory traversal in IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 allows remote authenticated users to read XML files. The server processes crafted JAX-RPC URL paths containing /../ sequences without preventing traversal to arbitrary XML files. Application security must be disabled and a JAX-RPC application present; enabled application security blocks this access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5016
Published
Mar 10, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM WebSphere Application Server
Classifications
CWE-22, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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

5.3IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
3.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N
6.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1005Data from Local System

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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