CVE-2009-3453 in Lotus Quickr
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in IBM Lotus Quickr 8.1.0 services for WebSphere Portal allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the filename of a .odt file in a Lotus Quickr place, related to the Library template.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3453 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Lotus Quickr 8.1.0 services integrated with WebSphere Portal. This vulnerability specifically targets the Library template functionality where users can upload and manage documents, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw manifests when the system processes the filename of .odt files uploaded to Lotus Quickr places without adequate sanitization or validation of the file metadata.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the document upload and processing pipeline. When users upload .odt files to Lotus Quickr places, the system stores and displays the filename in various user interface components without proper sanitization of potentially malicious content. This weakness creates an environment where attackers can embed malicious scripts within the filename itself, which then gets rendered when other users view the document listing or related interface elements. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack vector where user-provided data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper encoding or validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web portals, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious sites. Attackers could craft specially formatted .odt filenames containing JavaScript payloads that execute when other users browse the document library, effectively compromising the entire user base within the affected Lotus Quickr environment. This vulnerability particularly threatens organizations relying on Lotus Quickr for collaborative document management, as it undermines the security of shared workspaces and could lead to unauthorized access to confidential business information. The attack vector is particularly concerning due to its ability to exploit the trust relationship between users and the portal system, making it difficult to detect and prevent.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all file metadata, particularly filenames, before storage and display. The recommended approach involves implementing strict filename validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious content, including special characters and script tags. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution within the portal environment. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could exploit this vulnerability through malicious document attachments. Regular security updates and patches from IBM should be applied immediately, while network segmentation and monitoring of document upload activities can provide additional layers of defense. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their WebSphere Portal environments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components that might be susceptible to similar input validation flaws.