CVE-2012-0707 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Lombardi Edition 7.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted text input to a coach that is configured with a document attachment control section.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0707 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Lombardi Edition version 7.2, a business process management platform widely utilized for workflow automation and process modeling. This weakness specifically manifests in the document attachment control section of coaches, which are interactive forms used to collect and process user input within the Lombardi environment. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied text data before it is rendered back to users within the web interface. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious text input that contains embedded JavaScript code or HTML markup, which then gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when the affected coach is viewed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic XSS attack pattern where the malicious input bypasses the application's security controls through improper handling of user-provided content. The document attachment control section in Lombardi Edition 7.2 appears to directly incorporate user-entered text without adequate sanitization, creating an environment where attacker-controlled scripts can be injected into the application's response. This occurs because the system fails to implement proper content security policies or HTML escaping mechanisms when processing text fields that are subsequently displayed to end users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the browser context of authenticated users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attacks that leverage the compromised user sessions to perform unauthorized actions within the Lombardi environment. An attacker who successfully injects malicious scripts could potentially access other users' sessions, modify workflow processes, or extract sensitive business process information. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire Lombardi platform, as it undermines the trust model that should exist between the application and its users. Organizations utilizing this version of IBM WebSphere Lombardi Edition face significant risk of data breaches, process manipulation, and potential regulatory violations if this vulnerability remains unaddressed, particularly in environments where sensitive business processes are managed through the platform.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding controls throughout the application's data processing pipeline. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches or updates that address the specific XSS flaw in the document attachment control functionality. Additionally, implementing strict content security policies, enabling proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied content, and conducting regular security testing of input validation mechanisms can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and session management compromise, emphasizing the need for robust application-level defenses to prevent unauthorized access and data manipulation within enterprise workflow systems. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious input patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.