CVE-2011-1396 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Maximo Asset Management and Asset Management Essentials 6.2, 7.1, and 7.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the reportType parameter to an unspecified component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1396 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting IBM Maximo Asset Management and Asset Management Essentials versions 6.2, 7.1, and 7.5. This security weakness resides in the handling of user input within the reportType parameter of an unspecified component, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected applications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before it is processed and rendered back to users.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability demonstrates a classic parameter-based injection flaw where the reportType parameter lacks proper sanitization controls. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed when the vulnerable application processes and displays the parameter value. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which involves the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code. The flaw operates at the application layer where user input is directly incorporated into dynamically generated web content without adequate security measures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using affected IBM Maximo versions as it enables attackers to potentially steal user sessions, deface web interfaces, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute unauthorized commands within the application context. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access points or escalate privileges within the asset management environment. Organizations relying on these asset management systems face potential exposure of sensitive operational data, including maintenance schedules, asset configurations, and financial information that could be compromised through successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1396 should prioritize immediate application of vendor security patches and updates provided by IBM for the affected versions. Organizations must implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that filter and sanitize all user-supplied parameters including the reportType field, ensuring that no potentially malicious content can be processed. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable parameter. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators and developers should emphasize proper input handling practices and the importance of validating all external data sources. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper output encoding mechanisms will further strengthen defenses against similar XSS vulnerabilities in the application's attack surface.