CVE-2011-1106 in Lotus Sametime
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in stcenter.nsf in the server in IBM Lotus Sametime allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the authReasonCode parameter in an OpenDatabase action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1106 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Lotus Sametime's server component, specifically affecting the stcenter.nsf database. This weakness resides in the authentication handling mechanism where the system fails to properly sanitize user input before processing it within web responses. The vulnerability manifests when the OpenDatabase action is invoked with the authReasonCode parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions. The flaw operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor input validation practices that directly contravene established security principles for web application development.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the authReasonCode parameter within the OpenDatabase action, which is processed by the Lotus Sametime server without adequate sanitization of user-supplied data. When a victim's browser renders the response containing malicious script code, the injected payload executes within the security context of the victim's session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to inject malicious content that persists in the server's response, making it particularly dangerous for environments where users interact with the Sametime server through web interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise the integrity of the entire Lotus Sametime ecosystem. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access patterns, manipulate user sessions, or redirect victims to malicious domains that appear legitimate within the Sametime interface. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Lotus Sametime for unified communications, potentially exposing sensitive corporate communications and user data to unauthorized access. Given that this affects the server-side processing of authentication responses, it can undermine the trust model that Lotus Sametime establishes between users and the communication platform, creating opportunities for privilege escalation and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1106 require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures within the Lotus Sametime server configuration. Organizations should apply the relevant IBM security patches and updates that address this specific vulnerability, while implementing proper parameter validation for all user-supplied inputs to the OpenDatabase action. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML encoding of all dynamic content can significantly reduce the attack surface for this and similar XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the vulnerable stcenter.nsf database to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious parameter values in authentication flows, and regular security assessments should validate that all input handling mechanisms properly sanitize user data before processing, aligning with industry best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST SP 800-160 guidelines for secure software development practices.