CVE-2011-5143 in Open Business Management
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Open Business Management (OBM) 2.3.20 and probably earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) tf_name, (2) tf_delegation, and (3) tf_ip parameters to index.php. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5143 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Open Business Management version 2.3.20 and potentially earlier releases. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of web application security flaws that enable malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The affected parameters tf_name, tf_delegation, and tf_ip within the index.php script create attack vectors where unvalidated user input can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, particularly those that fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of specific HTTP parameters that are processed by the OBM application without adequate sanitization or output encoding. When attackers craft malicious payloads and submit them through the tf_name, tf_delegation, or tf_ip fields, the application fails to validate these inputs properly, allowing the injected scripts to execute within the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent threat where legitimate users may unknowingly execute malicious code that could steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the user, or redirect them to malicious websites. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects core administrative functions of the business management system, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to sensitive business data.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the application's user base. Attackers could leverage these XSS flaws to establish persistent backdoors within the system, harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions, or conduct more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking or credential theft. The vulnerability's presence in the index.php script suggests that it affects the application's core functionality, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate user accounts, modify system configurations, or access restricted administrative interfaces. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques. The attack surface is further expanded due to the lack of input validation, making it relatively easy for threat actors to discover and exploit these flaws without requiring advanced technical skills.
Organizations utilizing OBM 2.3.20 or earlier versions should immediately implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategies include implementing strict parameter validation for all user-supplied inputs, employing proper HTML escaping techniques before rendering dynamic content, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components, as this particular flaw demonstrates a pattern of insufficient input sanitization that may exist elsewhere in the codebase. The remediation process should also include regular security updates and patches to ensure that the application remains protected against known vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control through web application exploitation and credential access via session hijacking, making it a critical target for defensive security measures and incident response protocols.