CVE-2010-3470 in FileNet P8 Application Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Workplace (aka WP) component in IBM FileNet P8 Application Engine (P8AE) 3.5.1 before 3.5.1-021 and 4.0.2.x before 4.0.2.7-P8AE-FP007 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2015
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3470 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM FileNet P8 Application Engine's Workplace component. This security weakness affects versions 3.5.1 prior to 3.5.1-021 and 4.0.2.x prior to 4.0.2.7-P8AE-FP007, creating a significant attack surface that enables remote threat actors to execute malicious web scripts and HTML content within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Workplace component, which processes user-supplied data without adequate sanitization before rendering it in web responses. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's interface and can be executed when legitimate users access affected pages, potentially compromising user sessions and accessing sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The flaw manifests when the Workplace component fails to properly escape or validate user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. Attackers can exploit this weakness through various injection vectors including form fields, URL parameters, or any other user-controllable input points within the application's interface. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and potentially lead to privilege escalation within the application environment. The nature of the flaw suggests that the application's security controls are insufficient to prevent malicious data from being processed and rendered without proper sanitization, creating persistent security risks for organizations utilizing affected versions of the FileNet P8 platform.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents substantial risk to organizations relying on IBM FileNet P8 for document management and workflow automation. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can target users from external networks without requiring physical access to the system infrastructure. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to sensitive business documents, disruption of workflow processes, and potential data exfiltration. The impact is particularly concerning given that FileNet P8 is commonly used in enterprise environments where it handles critical business information and processes. Organizations may experience compliance violations and regulatory penalties if sensitive data is compromised through such attacks, as the vulnerability directly impacts data confidentiality and system integrity. The persistent nature of XSS attacks means that once exploited, malicious scripts can continue to affect users until the underlying vulnerability is patched and the malicious content is removed from affected systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for the affected IBM FileNet P8 versions, specifically targeting the 3.5.1-021 and 4.0.2.7-P8AE-FP007 releases. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious traffic patterns. Input validation should be strengthened at all user-facing interfaces to ensure that potentially malicious content is identified and rejected before processing. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader application ecosystem. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and enabling browser-based security features such as XSS protection mechanisms to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input validation controls as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's defensive strategies for preventing code injection attacks.