CVE-2013-0477 in InfoSphere Master Data Management Collaboration Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management - Collaborative Edition 10.0 and 10.1 before FP1 and InfoSphere Master Data Management Server for Product Information Management 6.0, 9.0, and 9.1 allow remote authenticated users to inject content, and conduct phishing attacks, via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0477 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management products, specifically targeting Collaborative Edition versions 10.0 and 10.1 prior to fix pack 1, as well as Server for Product Information Management versions 6.0, 9.0, and 9.1. This vulnerability resides within the web application layer of these master data management systems, which are designed to centralize and manage critical business data across enterprise environments. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious content into the application's response, creating a pathway for various malicious activities including phishing attacks that can compromise user credentials and sensitive information. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interfaces of these systems, particularly in how they handle user-supplied data that gets rendered back to other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve the manipulation of form fields, URL parameters, or other user input mechanisms within the InfoSphere applications. Attackers who have already gained authentication credentials can leverage this flaw to inject malicious javascript code or other harmful content into the application's user interface. This injected content can then be executed in the browsers of other users who view the affected pages, potentially redirecting them to malicious sites or stealing session cookies. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1566.002 for spearphishing links, as the XSS can be used to deliver phishing payloads that trick users into revealing sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise the integrity of master data management systems. Since these systems typically handle critical business information including customer data, product catalogs, and business entities, successful exploitation could lead to data corruption, unauthorized access to sensitive business information, and potential disruption of business operations. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first compromise legitimate user credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their access and conduct more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability affects organizations using these specific versions of IBM InfoSphere products, potentially exposing large datasets and business-critical information to unauthorized access and manipulation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM fix packs and security updates to address the vulnerability in affected versions. Network segmentation and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and filter malicious content entering the application. Input validation should be strengthened across all user-facing interfaces, and output encoding should be implemented to prevent malicious code execution. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications. Security awareness training for administrators and users should emphasize the importance of credential protection and suspicious link identification. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following secure coding practices that prevent injection flaws in enterprise web applications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address XSS-related security incidents in master data management environments.