CVE-2011-4465 in Lotus Mobile Connect
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Lotus Mobile Connect (LMC) 6.1.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to a hidden redirect URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4465 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Lotus Mobile Connect version 6.1.4, a mobile application development platform that enables enterprises to create and deploy mobile applications. This vulnerability specifically manifests in the handling of hidden redirect URLs, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The flaw exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's redirect functionality, allowing attackers to manipulate URL parameters that are subsequently processed without adequate sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing embedded script code that gets executed when the application processes a hidden redirect. This type of attack falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS variant where user-supplied input is improperly handled during the redirect process. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of CWE-601, URL Redirection to Untrusted Site, as the application fails to properly validate or sanitize redirect destinations, potentially leading to users being redirected to malicious sites. The attack vector leverages the application's trust in redirect parameters, where user-provided URL data is directly incorporated into the application's response without proper sanitization, creating an environment where malicious payloads can be executed in the context of legitimate user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, and potentially gain access to sensitive enterprise data. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of user sessions, enabling attackers to access corporate applications, view confidential information, and perform actions as authenticated users. The vulnerability affects organizations using IBM Lotus Mobile Connect 6.1.4 who may have deployed applications that utilize the redirect functionality, particularly those in environments where mobile applications interact with enterprise systems. The threat landscape for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes social engineering attacks through spearphishing with malicious attachments or links, where the malicious redirect URL serves as the attack vector for delivering malicious payloads.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all redirect parameters, implementing proper URL validation to ensure that redirect destinations are trusted and safe. The remediation strategy should include disabling unnecessary redirect functionality where possible, implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and conducting comprehensive code reviews to identify similar patterns in other application components. Additionally, organizations should consider network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious redirect attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping enterprise mobile development platforms updated, as IBM would have likely addressed this issue in subsequent releases. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to malicious redirect URLs and implement proper network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.