CVE-2013-1096 in Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Roles Based Provisioning Module 4.0.2 before Field Patch D for Novell Identity Manager (aka IDM) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a taskDetail taskId.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1096 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Novell Identity Manager's Roles Based Provisioning Module version 4.0.2 prior to Field Patch D. This security weakness resides in the web application's handling of taskDetail parameters, specifically when processing taskId values that are not properly sanitized or validated. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially compromising the integrity of the identity management system and the sensitive data it handles.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the injection of malicious JavaScript code or HTML content into the taskDetail taskId parameter. When the application processes this unvalidated input without proper sanitization, it renders the malicious content within the web interface, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where applications fail to validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding that violates fundamental secure coding practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially lead to complete compromise of the identity management environment. Attackers could leverage this XSS vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirect victims to malicious sites that could harvest additional credentials. In the context of identity management systems, this represents a severe threat since attackers could potentially escalate privileges or access sensitive user information that the system is designed to protect. The vulnerability affects the core provisioning module that handles role assignments and access controls, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Novell IDM for their identity infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1096 should prioritize immediate application of Novell's Field Patch D or equivalent security updates that address the specific input validation flaws in the Roles Based Provisioning Module. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of their identity management systems. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews focusing on parameter handling and user input validation, particularly in modules that process task-related data. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies as additional defensive measures. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shells, demonstrating how XSS flaws can be exploited to establish persistent access to web applications. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their identity management systems to identify and remediate similar input validation vulnerabilities that could compromise the integrity of their user authentication and authorization infrastructure.