CVE-2008-0861 in Lotus Quickplace
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in leg/Main.nsf in IBM Lotus Quickplace 7.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an h_SearchString sub-parameter in the PreSetFields parameter of an EditDocument action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0861 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Lotus Quickplace 7.0, specifically affecting the leg/Main.nsf database component. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input within the PreSetFields parameter of the EditDocument action, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this collaborative platform. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information processed through the Quickplace environment. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with opportunities to manipulate user interactions and access privileged data.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the IBM Lotus Quickplace application's document editing functionality. When the PreSetFields parameter contains an h_SearchString sub-parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This lack of proper sanitization creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser context when the affected page is rendered. The vulnerability specifically targets the EditDocument action, which is a core function for modifying existing documents within the Quickplace platform, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during routine document management operations. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to encompass potential privilege escalation and data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers could leverage this XSS flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject scripts that harvest sensitive information from authenticated Quickplace sessions. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain secure user contexts, potentially allowing unauthorized access to collaborative documents, user credentials, or confidential business information stored within the Lotus Quickplace environment. Organizations relying on this platform for document collaboration, project management, or knowledge sharing could face significant security implications, particularly in environments where sensitive corporate data is managed through the application. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or insider knowledge of the internal network structure to carry out successful attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0861 should prioritize immediate application of vendor patches and security updates provided by IBM for Lotus Quickplace 7.0. Organizations must implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, particularly focusing on parameters that are directly incorporated into web page content. The implementation of proper output encoding techniques, such as HTML entity encoding, should be enforced for all dynamic content generation to prevent script execution in browser contexts. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Security awareness training for administrators and users should emphasize the importance of monitoring for suspicious document modifications and maintaining updated security configurations. Organizations should also consider implementing strict access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized modifications to Quickplace documents, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the potential for seemingly minor implementation flaws to create significant security risks in collaborative platforms.