CVE-2012-3328 in Tivoli Service Request Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.1, Maximo Asset Management Essentials 7.1, Tivoli Asset Management for IT 7.1 and 7.2, Tivoli Service Request Manager 7.1 and 7.2, and Change and Configuration Management Database (CCMDB) 7.1 and 7.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to a hidden frame footer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3328 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple IBM Maximo products including Asset Management, Tivoli Asset Management for IT, Tivoli Service Request Manager, and Change and Configuration Management Database versions 7.1 and 7.2. This security weakness resides in the handling of user input within hidden frame footer components, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts and HTML code within the context of affected applications. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes input that gets rendered in hidden frame footer elements, allowing attackers to inject persistent or reflected XSS payloads that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web application's rendering engine. When user-supplied data flows through the hidden frame footer processing logic without proper sanitization, it creates an XSS vector that can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious payloads. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a result of inadequate input validation and output encoding practices. The attack occurs when legitimate users interact with the vulnerable application and encounter malicious content that executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or privilege escalation within the application environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations utilizing IBM Maximo solutions for asset management, service request handling, and configuration management. Attackers can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary scripts in the browser of authenticated users, potentially gaining access to sensitive business data, modifying records, or redirecting users to malicious sites. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to enterprise asset management systems, compromising the integrity of critical infrastructure data and service request workflows. The vulnerability affects multiple product lines within the IBM Maximo ecosystem, amplifying its potential impact across different business functions and operational domains.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls specifically targeting the hidden frame footer processing components. Security patches and updates from IBM should be applied promptly to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering malicious requests before they reach vulnerable application components. Access controls and user privilege management should be reviewed to limit potential damage from successful exploitation. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of input validation mechanisms and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader Maximo application suite. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust security practices in enterprise asset management systems where sensitive operational data is processed and stored.