CVE-2007-4348 in Tivoli Storage Manager Client
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the CAD service in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) Client 5.3.5.3 and 5.4.1.2 for Windows allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via HTTP requests to port 1581, which generate log entries in a dsmerror.log file that is accessible through a certain web interface.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4348 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Tivoli Storage Manager Client versions 5.3.5.3 and 5.4.1.2 for Windows operating systems. This security weakness resides in the CAD service component of the TSM Client software, which serves as a crucial element for storage management operations. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute unauthorized web scripts or HTML code through carefully crafted HTTP requests directed at port 1581, which is the default communication port used by the TSM Client services. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway involves the injection of malicious content into the system's logging mechanism, specifically targeting the dsmerror.log file that is subsequently exposed through a web interface accessible to unauthorized users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the CAD service's handling of HTTP requests. When legitimate HTTP requests are received on port 1581, the system processes these inputs without proper sanitization of user-supplied data before storing them in the dsmerror.log file. This log file becomes accessible through a web interface, creating a direct pathway for attackers to execute malicious scripts against unsuspecting users who access the log file through their browsers. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected XSS attack pattern where malicious code embedded in HTTP requests gets stored and subsequently executed in the context of the victim's browser when they view the log file through the web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for various malicious activities within the compromised environment. Attackers can utilize this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface web interfaces, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or privilege escalation. The exposure of the dsmerror.log file through a web interface creates a significant risk for organizations using TSM Client software, as it essentially provides attackers with a backdoor to inject persistent malicious code that remains active until the log file is manually cleared or the system is patched. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users access the web interface to monitor storage operations or troubleshoot issues, amplifying the potential impact across the entire user base.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM patches and updates, as the flaw represents a substantial risk to data integrity and system security. The mitigation strategy should include both immediate patch deployment and temporary network-level restrictions to block access to port 1581 from untrusted networks. Security teams must also implement proper input validation controls and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the storage management infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution through web interfaces. The incident underscores the critical importance of securing all network-accessible components within enterprise storage management systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of all interfaces that may be exposed to external threat actors.