CVE-2008-0354 in Lotus Sametime
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the chat client in IBM Lotus Sametime 7.5 and 7.5.1 allows user-assisted remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted message, which triggers code execution after a mouseover event initiated by the victim.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0354 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Lotus Sametime 7.5 and 7.5.1 chat client implementations. This weakness specifically affects the client-side processing of chat messages, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the communication channel. The vulnerability operates through a user-assisted attack vector, meaning that the victim must interact with the malicious content for the exploit to succeed, typically through a mouseover event that triggers the embedded code execution.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses that allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. In the context of IBM Lotus Sametime, the vulnerability manifests when the chat client fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering chat messages. This improper input validation creates a pathway for attackers to craft malicious messages containing JavaScript code or HTML elements that execute in the context of the victim's browser session. The mouseover trigger mechanism indicates that the malicious code is embedded within the message content and only executes when the user's mouse pointer hovers over the compromised message, making the attack more subtle and potentially harder to detect.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When a victim interacts with a crafted message through mouseover events, the embedded malicious code can access the victim's session cookies, potentially allowing unauthorized access to the Lotus Sametime application. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Lotus Sametime is deployed for internal communications, as it can compromise the security of sensitive business communications and potentially provide attackers with access to confidential information shared through the chat platform. The user-assisted nature of the attack means that social engineering elements may be required to convince victims to interact with malicious messages, though the underlying vulnerability remains a significant security risk.
Organizations utilizing IBM Lotus Sametime 7.5 and 7.5.1 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates to address this vulnerability. Network administrators should consider implementing content filtering solutions to detect and block suspicious chat messages containing known malicious patterns. The implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the chat client application represents a fundamental security control that should be enforced. Additionally, user education programs should be established to raise awareness about the risks of interacting with untrusted chat messages, particularly those that may contain unexpected visual elements or appear suspicious. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual chat message patterns and potential XSS attempts within the Sametime environment. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving client-side code execution and credential access through web-based attacks, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing enterprise communication platforms.