CVE-2026-16188
Received Received - Intake

Forgery of Log Entries in IBM WebSphere Application Server

Publication date: 2026-09-14

Last updated on: 2026-09-14

Assigner: IBM Corporation

Description
IBM WebSphere Application Server 9.0, and 8.5 could allow a remote attacker to inject forged log entries into the server's administrative log.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-14
Last Modified
2026-09-14
Generated
2026-09-15
AI Q&A
2026-09-14
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-16188
EUVD
EUVD-2026-77803

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 2 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
ibm websphere_application_server 9.0
ibm websphere_application_server 8.5

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-117 The product constructs a log message from external input, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements when the message is written to a log file.

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Executive Summary

IBM WebSphere Application Server 9.0 and 8.5 are vulnerable to a remote attacker injecting forged log entries into the server's administrative log. This could allow an attacker to manipulate logs, potentially hiding malicious activity or creating false records.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability involves forged log entries in IBM WebSphere Application Server's administrative log. Detection requires monitoring log files for unusual or unauthorized entries. Check the server's administrative log files for unexpected log messages or patterns that do not match normal operations. Use commands like 'grep' or 'tail' to inspect logs for anomalies.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could allow attackers to alter logs, making it difficult to detect or investigate security incidents. It may also lead to incorrect audit trails, affecting accountability and forensic analysis.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could impact compliance by compromising the integrity of audit logs required by regulations like GDPR and HIPAA. Forged logs may fail audits or legal requirements for accurate record-keeping.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest IBM WebSphere Application Server patches or updates to address the log injection vulnerability. Monitor administrative logs for suspicious entries and restrict access to server logs to authorized personnel only.

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