CVE-2012-5942 in Tivoli Application Dependency Discovery Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability 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 content, and conduct phishing attacks, via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2017
The CVE-2012-5942 vulnerability 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 vulnerability specifically affects the Data Management Portal Web User Interface component, which serves as the primary administrative interface for managing application dependency discovery processes. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's user interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by other users. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects authenticated users, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to exploit the flaw, though the impact remains significant given the administrative nature of the affected interface.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input parameters that are subsequently rendered in web responses without proper encoding. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that exploit the web application's failure to properly escape special characters in user-controllable data fields. When authenticated users interact with the vulnerable interface, their browsers execute the injected scripts within the context of their current session, potentially enabling attackers to steal session cookies, modify page content, or redirect users to malicious websites. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple input points within the Data Management Portal may be susceptible to this type of injection attack, making the vulnerability particularly difficult to fully assess and secure without comprehensive input validation measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables sophisticated phishing attacks that can deceive users into revealing sensitive information or performing unauthorized actions. An attacker with access to the TADDM interface can craft malicious content that appears legitimate to users, potentially leading to credential theft, data exfiltration, or system compromise through session hijacking. The vulnerability's location within the Data Management Portal means that successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate application dependency data, potentially causing disruptions to the discovery process or enabling more advanced attacks against the broader IT infrastructure. Given that TADDM is designed to discover and map application dependencies across complex enterprise environments, the compromise of its administrative interface could provide attackers with valuable insights into the organization's application landscape and interdependencies.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch version 7.2.1.4, which addresses the input validation flaws in the Data Management Portal interface. Additional defensive measures include implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments of web interfaces to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a typical example of how insufficient data validation can lead to severe security consequences. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access through session hijacking and initial access via exploitation of web application vulnerabilities, making it a significant threat vector for adversaries seeking to establish persistent access within enterprise environments. The remediation efforts should also include user education regarding phishing awareness and the importance of monitoring for suspicious activities within administrative interfaces.