CVE-2009-3105 in Domino Web Access
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Lotus iNotes (aka Domino Web Access or DWA) before 211.241 for Domino 8.0.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, aka SPR EZEL7UURYC.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3105 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Lotus iNotes, also known as Domino Web Access or DWA, affecting versions prior to 211.241 for Domino 8.0.1. This weakness resides in the web interface component that enables users to access email and collaboration features through a browser-based client. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information and session hijacking. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web interface, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be injected through unspecified vectors that manipulate the application's handling of user-supplied data.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability demonstrates a classic weakness in web application security where user-controllable input flows directly into HTML output without proper sanitization or encoding. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which describes "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", a fundamental flaw in web application security that has been consistently identified as one of the top ten web application security risks by OWASP. The vulnerability operates by allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts through various input points within the iNotes interface, which are then executed by other users' browsers when they view the affected content. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through multiple vectors including email messages, calendar entries, or any user-generated content that gets rendered in the web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating significant risks for organizations relying on IBM Lotus iNotes for email and collaboration services. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the Domino Web Access system, potentially allowing attackers to gain access to sensitive email communications, calendar data, and contact information. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' and T1566 for 'Phishing', as attackers could leverage the XSS capability to craft convincing phishing attacks that appear legitimate within the iNotes interface. The attack surface is particularly concerning for enterprise environments where users frequently interact with web-based email systems, as a successful exploitation could compromise entire email domains and potentially lead to broader network infiltration.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for Domino 8.0.1 and subsequent versions, implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injections. The remediation process should involve comprehensive security testing to ensure that all input fields and user-controllable parameters within the iNotes interface properly sanitize and encode data before rendering. Security administrators should also consider implementing content security policies and disabling unnecessary features that could provide additional attack vectors. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in web applications, particularly in enterprise email systems where the attack surface can have significant business impact. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Domino environments and consider implementing additional monitoring and detection capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts.