CVE-2011-2227 in Identity Manager User Application
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Novell Identity Manager (aka IDM) User Application 3.5.0, 3.5.1, 3.6.0, 3.6.1, 3.7.0, and 4.0.0, and Identity Manager Roles Based Provisioning Module 3.6.0, 3.6.1, 3.7.0, and 4.0.0, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the apwaDetail (aka apwaDetailId) parameter, aka Bug 709603.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2018
The CVE-2011-2227 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Novell Identity Manager products, specifically targeting the User Application versions 3.5.0 through 4.0.0 and the Roles Based Provisioning Module versions 3.6.0 through 4.0.0. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of the apwaDetail parameter, which is commonly used for detailed view operations within the identity management interface. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited across multiple product versions and release cycles.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Novell Identity Manager web framework. When the application processes the apwaDetailId parameter, it fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. This omission creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack pattern, where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without adequate sanitization. According to CWE standards, this represents a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that affects the core input/output processing mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or harvest sensitive identity information from the application's user interface. Given that Novell Identity Manager systems typically handle privileged user accounts and sensitive identity data, successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations using these specific versions of the identity management software, making it particularly concerning for enterprises that rely on Novell's identity infrastructure for user provisioning and access control. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001: Phishing, as attackers could craft malicious URLs containing the XSS payload to target specific users within the organization.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and the deployment of web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads. The most effective long-term solution involves updating to patched versions of Novell Identity Manager products, as the vendor has likely released security updates addressing this specific XSS vector. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies and establishing strict input sanitization procedures can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of the identity management infrastructure. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify potential additional vectors within the broader identity management ecosystem and ensure that all web interfaces properly validate and encode user-supplied data to prevent cross-site scripting attacks.