CVE-2012-0746 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.5, as used in SmartCloud Control Desk, Tivoli Asset Management for IT, Tivoli Service Request Manager, Maximo Service Desk, and Change and Configuration Management Database (CCMDB), allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0746 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Maximo Asset Management version 7.5 and its associated product ecosystem including SmartCloud Control Desk, Tivoli Asset Management for IT, Tivoli Service Request Manager, Maximo Service Desk, and Change and Configuration Management Database. This vulnerability specifically affects remote authenticated users who can exploit the flaw to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the affected applications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application framework, creating an attack surface where malicious code can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The affected systems process user-supplied input without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that persist in the application's data storage or execution paths.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw manifests when authenticated users submit specially crafted input through unspecified vectors within the Maximo application interfaces, potentially including forms, data entry points, or parameter handling mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the application. The vulnerability's classification as authenticated remote indicates that exploitation requires valid user credentials but does not necessitate privileged access levels, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts are widely distributed. The attack chain typically involves the attacker authenticating to the system, identifying input fields or parameters susceptible to injection, crafting malicious payloads, and then executing these payloads through the vulnerable application components.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0746 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially compromising the entire asset management ecosystem where these applications operate. Organizations utilizing these IBM Maximo products face significant risks including unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within their IT infrastructure. The vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate asset records, modify service requests, or gain access to sensitive configuration data stored within the CCMDB and related systems. The affected applications handle critical business data including asset inventories, service requests, and configuration information, making successful exploitation particularly damaging. The vulnerability's presence in multiple IBM product lines suggests a systemic issue within the Maximo framework architecture, potentially affecting numerous enterprise deployments simultaneously. This widespread impact increases the potential for cascading security incidents across interconnected systems that rely on these asset management solutions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0746 should prioritize immediate patching of affected IBM Maximo installations through official IBM security bulletins and updates. Organizations must implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms, including proper encoding and sanitization of user-supplied data before processing or storage. The implementation of Content Security Policies (CSP) can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if injection occurs. Network segmentation and privileged access controls should be enforced to limit the scope of potential exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the broader application ecosystem. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, emphasizing the need for both technical and administrative controls. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while maintaining detailed audit logs to monitor for suspicious activities related to user input handling and data manipulation.