CVE-2009-4187 in Java System Portal Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Gateway component in Sun Java System Portal Server 6.3.1, 7.1, and 7.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4187 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Gateway component of Sun Java System Portal Server versions 6.3.1, 7.1, and 7.2. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The affected Gateway component serves as a critical interface for portal functionality and user authentication, making it a prime target for exploitation.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified vectors that allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code into the portal environment. This injection occurs within the Gateway component's processing mechanisms, which likely fail to properly sanitize or validate user input before rendering it in web responses. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector indicates that exploitation can occur without requiring local system access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for deployed portal environments. Attackers could leverage this weakness to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive portal resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates a persistent security risk for organizations relying on Sun Java System Portal Server for their web applications. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities could enable attackers to steal user session cookies, redirect victims to malicious sites, deface portal content, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The affected versions 6.3.1, 7.1, and 7.2 represent multiple release lines that would have been widely deployed in enterprise environments, amplifying the potential scope of impact. Organizations utilizing these portal server versions face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access, particularly in environments where sensitive information is processed through the affected components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4187 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with vendor-provided security updates. Organizations must implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection attacks, following established security practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, highlighting the need for network monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies, using secure coding practices for input sanitization, and conducting regular security assessments would provide layered defense against similar vulnerabilities in the portal environment.