CVE-2008-5011 in Lotus
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in IBM Lotus Quickr 8.1 before 8.1.0.2 services for Lotus Domino allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, possibly related to qpconfig_sample.xml, aka SPR CWIR7KMPVP and THES7F9NVR, a different vulnerability than CVE-2008-2163 and CVE-2008-3860.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5011 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in IBM Lotus Quickr 8.1 before version 8.1.0.2, which operates as a web-based collaboration platform integrated with Lotus Domino. This flaw exists within the service layer of the application and enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the qpconfig_sample.xml configuration file which serves as a template for system settings, making it a prime target for exploitation. The issue is categorized under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable code by web browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of the qpconfig_sample.xml file or related configuration parameters. Attackers can inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed when legitimate users access affected pages or services. This typically happens when the application fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before rendering it in web responses. The vulnerability's relationship to SPR CWIR7KMPVP and THES7F9NVR indicates that while these are separate issues, they share similar underlying causes related to improper input handling in the Quickr configuration subsystem. The flaw differs from CVE-2008-2163 and CVE-2008-3860, which suggests that the XSS attack surface has multiple entry points within the same product family.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. Remote attackers could potentially modify or delete content, access restricted information, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the entire Quickr service infrastructure, potentially compromising collaboration features, document management systems, and user authentication mechanisms. Given that Quickr integrates with Lotus Domino, the attack surface could extend to broader enterprise applications and services that rely on Domino's infrastructure. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in corporate environments where such systems handle sensitive business data and user credentials.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to IBM Lotus Quickr 8.1.0.2 or later versions that contain the necessary patches for this vulnerability. Network segmentation and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and filter malicious traffic targeting these specific configuration files. Input validation controls must be strengthened at all entry points, particularly those involving XML configuration parsing. Security teams should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any additional vectors that might be susceptible to similar attacks. Regular security assessments of web applications and configuration files are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the Lotus Domino ecosystem. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application vulnerability exploitation technique, specifically targeting the 'Web Application Attack Surface' and 'Input Validation' attack patterns.