CVE-2013-5376 in Storwize V7000 Unified Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Storwize V7000 Unified 1.3.x and 1.4.x before 1.4.2.0 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, related to a "cross frame scripting" attack against an administrative user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5376 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in IBM Storwize V7000 Unified storage management systems. This flaw affects versions 1.3.x and 1.4.x prior to 1.4.2.0, specifically targeting the administrative interface of these unified storage solutions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web-based management console, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of administrative sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability classifies it as a cross-frame scripting attack, which operates by exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and the authenticated administrative user. Unlike traditional XSS vectors that target user sessions, this variant specifically targets administrative interfaces where the consequences of successful exploitation are significantly more severe. The attack occurs when an authenticated user navigates to a maliciously crafted web page that contains embedded scripts designed to interact with the storage management interface through cross-frame communication techniques. This approach leverages the administrative privileges of the target user to execute arbitrary commands within the storage system's management context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. An attacker who successfully exploits this weakness can gain full administrative control over the storage system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, unauthorized configuration changes, system compromise, and disruption of critical storage services. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the storage infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where storage systems are often managed through web interfaces accessible over network connections. Administrative users who are logged into the system when they encounter the malicious content become unwitting participants in the attack, as their elevated privileges are automatically leveraged by the malicious script.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The attack vector specifically relates to T1566.001 for credential access through web application attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch to version 1.4.2.0 or higher, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts, and conducting regular security assessments of web-based management interfaces. Additionally, network segmentation and privileged access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while user education regarding the dangers of visiting untrusted websites during administrative sessions remains crucial for defense in depth.