Security Bulletin
Summary
There are mulitple vulnerabilities in the Apache Neethi library that affect IBM WebSphere Application Server.
Vulnerability Details
CVEID: CVE-2026-91865
DESCRIPTION: A small WS-Policy document using repeated policy references can force Neethi to re-expand the same references exponentially during normalization, consuming huge amounts of CPU and memory (denial of service).
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.2.4, which fixes this issue.
CWE: CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling
CVSS Source: CISA ADP
CVSS Base score: 7.5
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H)
CVEID: CVE-2026-91867
DESCRIPTION: When Neethi fetches a remote policy reference, it only limits the time per read, not the whole transfer, so a server that trickles bytes slowly can keep the fetch alive indefinitely and tie up the calling thread (denial of service).
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.2.4, which fixes this issue.
CWE: CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
CVSS Source: CISA ADP
CVSS Base score: 4.3
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L)
Affected Products and Versions
| Affected Product(s) | Version(s) |
| WebSphere Application Server | 8.5 |
| WebSphere Application Server | 9.0 |
Remediation/Fixes
IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now by applying a currently available interim fix or fix pack that contains the fix for APAR DT505497.
For IBM WebSphere Application Server traditional:
For V9.0.0.0 through 9.0.5.29:
· Upgrade to minimal fix pack levels as required by the interim fix and then apply the Interim Fix that resolves DT505497
--OR--
· Apply Fix Pack 9.0.5.30 or later (targeted availability 4Q2026).
For V8.5.0.0 through 8.5.5.32:
· Upgrade to minimal fix pack levels as required by the interim fix and then apply the Interim Fix that resolves DT505497
--OR--
· Apply Fix Pack 8.5.5.33 or later (targeted availability 1Q2027).
Additional interim fixes may be available and linked off the interim fix download page.
Workarounds and Mitigations
None
Get Notified about Future Security Bulletins
References
Acknowledgement
Change History
03 Nov 2026: Initial Publication
*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin.
Disclaimer
According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES ""AS IS"" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY. In addition to other efforts to address potential vulnerabilities, IBM periodically updates the record of components contained in our product offerings. As part of that effort, if IBM identifies previously unidentified packages in a product/service inventory, we address relevant vulnerabilities regardless of CVE date. Inclusion of an older CVEID does not demonstrate that the referenced product has been used by IBM since that date, nor that IBM was aware of a vulnerability as of that date. We are making clients aware of relevant vulnerabilities as we become aware of them. "Affected Products and Versions" referenced in IBM Security Bulletins are intended to be only products and versions that are supported by IBM and have not passed their end-of-support or warranty date. Thus, failure to reference unsupported or extended-support products and versions in this Security Bulletin does not constitute a determination by IBM that they are unaffected by the vulnerability. Reference to one or more unsupported versions in this Security Bulletin shall not create an obligation for IBM to provide fixes for any unsupported or extended-support products or versions.
Document Location
Worldwide
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Document Information
Modified date:
03 November 2026
Initial Publish date:
03 November 2026
UID
ibm17295361