CVE-2011-1357 in WebSphere Service Registry
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in agentDetect.jsp in the web UI in IBM WebSphere Service Registry and Repository (WSRR) 6.3 before 6.3.0.5, 7.0 before 7.0.0.5, and 7.5 before 7.5.0.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the User-Agent HTTP header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1357 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Service Registry and Repository web interface components. This vulnerability specifically affects versions 6.3 prior to 6.3.0.5, 7.0 prior to 7.0.0.5, and 7.5 prior to 7.5.0.1, exposing organizations to potential malicious code execution through web-based attacks. The flaw exists in the agentDetect.jsp file which processes HTTP requests through the User-Agent header, creating an attack surface where untrusted input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web responses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the web UI components of WSRR. When the system processes requests containing User-Agent headers, it fails to adequately sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to craft malicious User-Agent strings containing script tags or other executable content that gets rendered in the web interface without proper security measures. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on WSRR for service registry and repository management. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data manipulation within the service registry environment. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard HTTP headers that are automatically sent by web browsers and various client applications. This vulnerability can be leveraged to compromise user sessions, steal sensitive registry information, or redirect users to malicious sites that could further compromise the enterprise network.
The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the context of the compromised system. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access restricted registry entries, or manipulate service definitions that could affect downstream applications relying on the registry. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in relation to broader ATT&CK framework techniques such as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no specialized tools beyond standard HTTP request manipulation and can be automated through various reconnaissance and attack frameworks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment to the affected versions of IBM WebSphere Service Registry and Repository, with particular attention to the specific version releases mentioned in the vulnerability description. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at the network level, including web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious User-Agent patterns. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary web interface components, implementing strict content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices in web applications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar flaws in future releases.