CVE-2011-4819 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in IBM Maximo Asset Management and Asset Management Essentials 6.2, 7.1, and 7.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the uisesionid parameter to (1) maximo.jsp or (2) the default URI under ui/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4819 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 vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of user input parameters, specifically the uisesionid parameter that is processed through the maximo.jsp endpoint or the default URI under the ui/ directory structure. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these asset management platforms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the IBM Maximo applications. When the uisesionid parameter is submitted to the affected endpoints, the application fails to adequately sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an environment where malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who interact with the compromised application. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through web application attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, manipulate data within the asset management system, or redirect users to malicious websites. Given that Maximo is widely used for enterprise asset management, the compromise of a single user session could potentially provide attackers with access to critical operational data, maintenance schedules, equipment information, and financial asset records. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the network or system to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these applications may be accessible from multiple locations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM security patches and updates. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper input validation at all application entry points, enforcing strict output encoding for dynamic content generation, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious traffic patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual session activity and parameter manipulation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices in enterprise applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing including dynamic application security testing and input validation reviews to prevent similar issues in the future.