CVE-2013-0492 in Informix Open Admin Tool
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Informix Open Admin Tool (OAT) 2.x and 3.x before 3.11.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0492 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Informix Open Admin Tool versions 2.x and 3.x prior to 3.11.1. This security weakness specifically affects the administrative interface of the Informix database management system, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors who have authenticated access to the system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the OAT web interface, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive database information, session hijacking, or further exploitation of the compromised system.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classification of CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack scenario involves authenticated users leveraging their legitimate access privileges to craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that the OAT interface processes without adequate sanitization. The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the application's security model where user input is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without proper contextual encoding or validation. The affected versions of IBM Informix OAT do not implement robust input filtering mechanisms or output encoding strategies that would prevent malicious scripts from being executed when users navigate to specially crafted URLs within the administrative interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive database administration functions. An attacker with valid credentials could potentially manipulate the web interface to execute arbitrary commands, access confidential database information, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, and the authenticated requirement reduces the attack surface while still maintaining a significant security risk. This weakness can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where database administrators maintain extensive privileges and sensitive data access. The vulnerability affects not only the confidentiality of database operations but also the integrity and availability of the administrative interface, potentially disrupting normal database management operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address this specific vulnerability. The recommended remediation approach involves upgrading to IBM Informix Open Admin Tool version 3.11.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Additional defensive measures should include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious URL patterns, conducting regular security assessments of the administrative interface, and establishing strict access controls with principle of least privilege. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative access logs can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where the potential impact of XSS attacks can be severe. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security training for administrators to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering or other attack vectors that may complement this vulnerability.