CVE-2010-3890 in OmniFind
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition before 9.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the command parameter to the administration interface, as demonstrated by the command parameter to ESAdmin/collection.do.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-3890 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition versions prior to 9.1. This weakness exists within the administration interface of the software, specifically in how the system processes the command parameter. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 which details "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", making it a classic example of an XSS attack vector. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the command parameter in the ESAdmin/collection.do endpoint of the administration interface. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through this parameter, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web interface. This lack of input validation creates an environment where arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code can be injected and subsequently executed by unsuspecting users who access the administration interface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative interface, which typically has elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to the entire administrative system. IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition serves as a search and content management platform, and compromise of its administration interface could lead to unauthorized modification of search configurations, data manipulation, or complete system takeover. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to inject persistent XSS payloads that would execute whenever administrators access the affected interface, creating a long-term foothold within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the platform and could impact data integrity, confidentiality, and availability according to the CIA triad principles.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves upgrading to IBM OmniFind Enterprise Edition version 9.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper web application firewall rules to filter malicious inputs, conducting regular security assessments of web applications, and applying input sanitization techniques such as HTML encoding and output escaping can provide additional protection. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - "Phishing" and T1059 - "Command and Scripting Interpreter" techniques, as attackers could use the XSS to redirect victims to malicious sites or execute commands through the compromised interface. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege access controls should also be enforced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation.