CVE-2013-2955 in InfoSphere Optim Data Growth for Oracle E-Business Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM InfoSphere Optim Data Growth for Oracle E-Business Suite 6.x, 7.x, and 9.x before 9.1.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, related to a stored XSS issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2955 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM InfoSphere Optim Data Growth for Oracle E-Business Suite versions 6.x, 7.x, and 9.x prior to 9.1.0.3. This security weakness specifically manifests as a stored XSS vulnerability that enables remote authenticated attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content through manipulated URLs. The flaw resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within URL parameters, creating an environment where malicious code can be persistently stored and subsequently executed when other users access the affected application. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it particularly dangerous as the malicious content can affect multiple users over time rather than being limited to a single session or request.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers. When authenticated users interact with the vulnerable application, the stored malicious scripts can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface web pages, or perform actions on behalf of the victim. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that once the malicious payload is injected, it remains persistent within the application's data stores and continues to affect users until the vulnerability is patched or the malicious content is manually removed. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking long-term access to compromised systems or the ability to harvest sensitive information from authenticated users.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves using compromised accounts to establish persistence and maintain access to systems. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers who have already gained legitimate access to the application through valid credentials, allowing them to leverage the stored XSS to escalate their privileges or maintain persistent access. The attack chain typically begins with an authenticated user visiting a maliciously crafted URL containing the XSS payload, which then gets stored in the application's database. When other users access the same application features or pages, the stored script executes in their browsers, potentially leading to complete compromise of their sessions and access to sensitive data. Organizations using these specific versions of IBM InfoSphere Optim Data Growth should prioritize immediate remediation to prevent exploitation.
The remediation approach for CVE-2013-2955 requires implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase, particularly in URL parameter handling and data storage functions. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls and implement Content Security Policies to mitigate the impact of any potential exploitation attempts. The most effective solution involves upgrading to IBM InfoSphere Optim Data Growth 9.1.0.3 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and validation controls. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unusual URL parameter patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts before they succeed in compromising user sessions or data integrity.