CVE-2012-5939 in Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Welcome.do in the Data Management Portal Web User Interface in IBM Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager (TADDM) 7.2.x before 7.2.1.4 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5939 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager version 7.2.x prior to 7.2.1.4. This issue specifically affects the Data Management Portal Web User Interface component, where the Welcome.do servlet fails to properly sanitize user input parameters. The vulnerability exists in the web application's handling of URL parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of URL parameters that are processed by the Welcome.do servlet. When authenticated users navigate to specially crafted URLs containing malicious script payloads, the application fails to validate or escape these inputs before rendering them in web responses. This improper input handling creates a persistent XSS vector that can be leveraged by attackers who have already established valid authentication credentials. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS issue where user-supplied data flows directly into the application's output without adequate sanitization mechanisms.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing IBM TADDM 7.2.x systems, as it allows authenticated attackers to potentially compromise user sessions and execute malicious code within the context of the victim's browser. The impact extends beyond simple script injection, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The authenticated nature of the attack means that exploitation requires valid user credentials, but this lowers the barrier to successful compromise compared to unauthenticated vulnerabilities.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, and aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for Phishing and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. Organizations using this version of IBM Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager face potential data exposure, session hijacking, and privilege escalation risks. The affected system components include the web user interface layer and the data management portal functionality, making it particularly concerning for enterprises that rely heavily on application dependency mapping and discovery capabilities.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for IBM Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager version 7.2.1.4, which addresses the input validation issues in the Welcome.do servlet. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper input validation and output encoding at all application layers, deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious URL patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of web interfaces. Network segmentation and privileged access controls can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while user education on recognizing suspicious web content remains essential for comprehensive security posture management.