CVE-2008-0834 in Lotus Quickr
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Lotus Quickr for i5/OS before 8.0.0.2 Hotfix 11, when anonymous access is disabled on HTTP ports, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2015
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0834 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Lotus Quickr for i5/OS systems operating below version 8.0.0.2 Hotfix 11. This security weakness specifically manifests when the application's HTTP ports have anonymous access disabled, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security flaw that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the application's configuration settings where anonymous access is restricted, suggesting that the vulnerability may be triggered through authenticated user interactions or specific HTTP request handling mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of input parameters or HTTP headers processed by the Lotus Quickr application. When anonymous access is disabled, the application's security model may not properly sanitize or validate user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts. The vulnerability's impact is significant as it allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially escalate privileges or steal session cookies, user credentials, or sensitive information from authenticated users. The lack of specific vector details in the original CVE description suggests that multiple attack paths may exist, potentially including form submissions, URL parameters, or other input fields within the application's HTTP interface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risk to organizations utilizing Lotus Quickr for i5/OS, particularly those with security configurations that disable anonymous access as a protective measure. The attack scenario involves remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers who are not authenticated to the system. The security implications extend beyond simple script injection, as successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the underlying i5/OS infrastructure. This vulnerability directly contradicts the principle of least privilege and proper input validation that should be implemented in all web applications, as the system fails to adequately sanitize user input before rendering it in web contexts.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the available hotfix 11 for Lotus Quickr version 8.0.0.2, which addresses this specific vulnerability. The recommended approach involves upgrading to the patched version or implementing web application firewall rules that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Security teams should also review their current configuration practices to ensure that disabling anonymous access does not inadvertently create other security weaknesses. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering, as attackers may use the XSS vulnerability to capture user sessions or credentials. Additionally, the flaw demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly in preventing client-side code injection attacks that can compromise entire user sessions and potentially lead to broader system compromise.