CVE-2008-0240 in Java System Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
/idm/help/index.jsp in Sun Java System Identity Manager 6.0 SP1 through SP3, 7.0, and 7.1 allows remote attackers to inject frames from arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via the helpUrl parameter, aka "frame injection."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0240 represents a critical security flaw in Sun Java System Identity Manager versions 6.0 SP1 through SP3 and versions 7.0 and 7.1. This issue resides within the /idm/help/index.jsp component where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input parameters, specifically the helpUrl parameter that is used to determine which help content to display within an embedded frame. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary frame content from external websites, creating a dangerous vector for social engineering and phishing attacks that can deceive users into believing they are interacting with legitimate system interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the Identity Manager application. When users navigate to help pages, the system accepts a helpUrl parameter that should ideally reference internal help content but instead allows external URLs to be passed directly into the frame source attribute. This creates a classic cross-site framing vulnerability where the application fails to implement proper sanitization or validation of the URL parameter before incorporating it into the HTML output. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-74 as a "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component" and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1531 for "Modify System Image" through malicious frame injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly in enterprise environments where Identity Manager systems handle sensitive authentication and authorization functions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create convincing phishing pages that appear to be legitimate help content within the Identity Manager interface, potentially capturing user credentials or other sensitive information. The injected frames can display malicious content, redirect users to harmful websites, or even execute additional attacks through the frame context. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of the Identity Manager system, as users cannot distinguish between legitimate help content and maliciously injected frames, potentially leading to unauthorized access to privileged accounts and compromise of the entire identity management infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to protect their systems. The primary recommendation involves implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in frame sources or URL generation. This includes implementing a whitelist approach that only allows specific, pre-approved help URLs and rejecting any external URL references. Additionally, organizations should deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers that restrict frame loading to trusted sources only, preventing the injection of external content. The implementation of proper access controls and monitoring for unusual help URL parameter usage can also aid in detecting potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious frame injection attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the identity management infrastructure.