CVE-2011-2754 in WebSphere Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the PageBuilder2 (aka Page Builder) theme in IBM WebSphere Portal 7.x before 7.0.0.1 CF006, as used in IBM Web Content Manager (WCM) and other products, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2754 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Portal 7.x versions prior to 7.0.0.1 CF006, specifically affecting the PageBuilder2 (also known as Page Builder) theme component. This vulnerability manifests within IBM Web Content Manager and other related products, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing these platforms. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through unspecified attack vectors, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized access to protected resources.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the PageBuilder2 theme implementation. When user-supplied data is processed and rendered within the web interface without proper sanitization, attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where improper validation of user input leads to execution of malicious code in the victim's browser. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.005 which covers the use of scripting languages for execution, and T1566 which encompasses social engineering techniques through malicious web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations using IBM WebSphere Portal environments. Attackers could exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface content management interfaces, or escalate privileges within the portal environment. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system or insider knowledge to exploit the vulnerability. This weakness particularly affects content managers and administrators who may unknowingly process malicious input through the PageBuilder2 theme's interface, potentially leading to complete compromise of the web content management system. The vulnerability's presence in Web Content Manager components means that any content created or edited through these interfaces could become a vector for attack.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security fix CF006 for WebSphere Portal 7.0.0.1, which addresses this specific vulnerability through enhanced input validation and output encoding mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to add an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within other portal components. The mitigation strategy should also include user education regarding the risks of clicking suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites that may contain malicious payloads designed to exploit such XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and web application firewalls should be configured to filter malicious input before it reaches the vulnerable components.