CVE-2013-0488 in Lotus Domino
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in webadmin.nsf (aka the Web Administrator client) in IBM Domino 8.5.x allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0488 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Domino 8.5.x's webadmin.nsf component, commonly known as the Web Administrator client. This weakness resides in the server-side web administration interface that administrators use to manage Domino server configurations and resources. The vulnerability affects organizations running IBM Domino version 8.5.x where the Web Administrator client is enabled and accessible to unauthorized users. The flaw specifically manifests in the webadmin.nsf database which serves as the primary interface for remote administration of Domino servers through web-based means, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise administrative environments.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the webadmin.nsf application, allowing remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the administrative interface. This injection typically happens when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web responses. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the Domino Web Administrator client, which fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get executed in the context of authenticated administrator sessions, potentially leading to complete server compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0488 extends far beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges and access to sensitive administrative functions. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the administrative user's session, potentially gaining full control over the Domino server. Attackers can leverage this access to modify server configurations, extract sensitive data, create new administrator accounts, or even deploy malware to the server infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative interface, meaning that successful exploitation could result in persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, and complete system compromise. Organizations with Domino servers running vulnerable versions may face significant operational disruption and security breaches.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to protect against this vulnerability. The primary mitigation involves applying the official IBM security patches and updates released for Domino 8.5.x to address the XSS flaw. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Domino Web Administrator client configuration can help prevent malicious payloads from being executed. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the webadmin.nsf interface to only authorized personnel. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious activities in the administrative interface, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection against known attack patterns. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques such as T1059 for command and script injection. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure that all administrative interfaces remain protected against similar vulnerabilities.