CVE-2010-4219 in WebSphere Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SemanticTagService.js in IBM WebSphere Portal 6.1.0.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4219 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Portal version 6.1.0.1, specifically within the SemanticTagService.js component. This weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions, potentially compromising the security of web applications built on this platform. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing it within the portal's semantic tagging service. The affected component SemanticTagService.js appears to handle semantic web technologies and tagging functionality, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit XSS vulnerabilities in enterprise portal environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of parameters or data inputs processed by the SemanticTagService.js script. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that get executed when legitimate users browse pages containing the compromised semantic tags. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security where user input is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WebSphere Portal serves as a foundation for enterprise collaboration and content management systems, where users frequently interact with rich web content and semantic data.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4219 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from the portal environment. Given that WebSphere Portal 6.1.0.1 was widely deployed in enterprise settings, this vulnerability could have affected organizations with significant web presence and user interaction. The implications align with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, where adversaries leverage browser-based scripting to execute malicious code. The vulnerability particularly affects the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions, potentially enabling persistent threats that could compromise entire portal ecosystems.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patching of the WebSphere Portal to the latest security fixes, deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injections, and implementation of strict content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Input validation and output encoding should be strengthened throughout the application stack to prevent similar vulnerabilities from manifesting in other components. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of portal environments are essential to identify potential XSS weaknesses, with particular attention to semantic web services and tagging components that may be susceptible to similar attack vectors. The remediation approach should follow NIST SP 800-171 guidelines for secure web application development and the OWASP Top Ten security practices for preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in enterprise web applications.