CVE-2009-2316 in Tivoli Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in IBM Tivoli Identity Manager (ITIM) 5.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML by entering an unspecified URL in (1) the self-service UI interface or (2) the console interface. NOTE: it was later reported that 4.6.0 is also affected by the first vector.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2316 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in IBM Tivoli Identity Manager version 5.0, with additional impact confirmed for version 4.6.0. This security flaw resides within the identity management platform's user interfaces, specifically affecting both the self-service UI and console interface components. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through crafted URL inputs, exploiting the application's insufficient input validation mechanisms. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it targets the core administrative and user self-service functionalities of the identity management system, which are essential components for managing user identities and access controls within enterprise environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the web application's interface components. When users interact with the self-service or console interfaces and provide malformed URL parameters, the application fails to properly validate or escape these inputs before rendering them in web responses. This lack of input filtering creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests as a classic XSS flaw categorized under CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The weakness allows attackers to bypass the application's security controls and potentially escalate privileges or steal session cookies, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive identity management functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the entire identity management infrastructure. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users, access restricted administrative functions, or manipulate identity records within the system. The attack surface is particularly broad since both the self-service UI and console interface are commonly accessed by various user roles, from standard employees to system administrators. The vulnerability's potential for privilege escalation and data manipulation makes it especially dangerous in enterprise environments where ITIM serves as a central repository for identity information and access control policies. Organizations using affected versions face significant risks including unauthorized access to user accounts, potential data breaches, and disruption of identity management services that could affect multiple applications and systems dependent on the platform.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2316 should prioritize immediate patch application from IBM, as the vendor would have released security updates addressing the input validation deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing interfaces, ensuring that all URL parameters are properly sanitized before processing. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious traffic patterns. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on input handling within the affected interfaces, implementing strict validation rules and employing automated tools to detect similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that security patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing identity management workflows. Additionally, organizations should establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous user behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the broader IT infrastructure that may be susceptible to similar attack vectors.