CVE-2013-0457 in Maximo Asset Management Essentials
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.5, Maximo Asset Management Essentials 7.5, and SmartCloud Control Desk 7.5 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to a uisessionid.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0457 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.5, Maximo Asset Management Essentials 7.5, and SmartCloud Control Desk 7.5 platforms. This security weakness resides in the handling of uisessionid parameters within the web application interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. The vulnerability specifically impacts authenticated users who interact with the web-based management interfaces, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these systems are widely deployed.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's session management framework. When the uisessionid parameter is processed, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web responses. This allows attackers who have already established valid authentication credentials to manipulate session identifiers and inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack vector.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables sophisticated attack scenarios that can compromise entire enterprise asset management workflows. An authenticated attacker could potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive operational data, or manipulate asset records that directly affect business operations. The vulnerability affects critical business processes involving asset tracking, maintenance scheduling, and inventory management, where unauthorized modifications could result in significant financial and operational losses. Additionally, the attack vector's reliance on authenticated sessions means that the threat actor must first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, the potential for damage increases substantially.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application stack. Organizations should deploy proper parameter sanitization routines that escape special characters in session identifiers and other user-supplied data before rendering in web responses. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against script execution. Regular security patching and vulnerability assessment programs are essential, with immediate remediation recommended for affected versions of IBM Maximo and SmartCloud Control Desk. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual session identifier patterns and establish robust access control measures including multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of unauthorized credential acquisition. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those addressing input validation and output encoding controls.