CVE-2012-4819 in InfoSphere Information Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in InfoSphere Business Glossary 8.1.1 and 8.1.2, InfoSphere DataStage Operation Console, InfoSphere Administration, and Reporting and Repository Management Web Console in IBM InfoSphere Information Server 8.1, 8.5 before FP3, and 8.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2018
The CVE-2012-4819 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple components within IBM InfoSphere Information Server 8.1, 8.5 before FP3, and 8.7 versions. This vulnerability specifically impacts the InfoSphere Business Glossary 8.1.1 and 8.1.2, InfoSphere DataStage Operation Console, InfoSphere Administration, and Reporting and Repository Management Web Console. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content through unspecified vectors, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing these enterprise data management platforms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interfaces of IBM InfoSphere Information Server components. When users interact with the affected web consoles, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, creating opportunities for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' sessions. This type of 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 vulnerability exists across multiple console interfaces, suggesting a systemic issue in the web application framework rather than isolated component failures.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4819 extends beyond simple data theft or manipulation, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web interfaces, steal sensitive business intelligence, or redirect users to malicious sites. Organizations utilizing InfoSphere Information Server for business glossary management, data stage operations, administration, and reporting would face potential exposure of critical business data and intellectual property. The vulnerability affects enterprise-level data management systems where users frequently access sensitive business information, making the potential impact severe for financial services, healthcare, and other regulated industries that depend on InfoSphere for data governance and management. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to business glossary definitions, data stage job configurations, administrative controls, and repository management functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions, particularly targeting the specific FP3 releases for version 8.5 and ensuring all components are updated to supported versions. Organizations should implement input validation controls at multiple layers including web application firewalls, application-level sanitization, and output encoding mechanisms to prevent XSS attacks. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should verify that all web interfaces properly handle user input. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and disabling unnecessary web application features can provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider monitoring for suspicious user activities and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts against these web console interfaces.