CVE-2013-5394 in WebSphere eXtreme Scale
Summary
by MITRE
The monitoring console in IBM WebSphere eXtreme Scale 7.1.0, 7.1.1, 8.5.0, and 8.6.0 allows remote authenticated users to conduct phishing attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5394 affects IBM WebSphere eXtreme Scale monitoring console components across multiple versions including 7.1.0, 7.1.1, 8.5.0, and 8.6.0. This security flaw resides within the administrative interface that provides monitoring capabilities for the distributed computing platform. The issue represents a significant concern for organizations relying on IBM WebSphere eXtreme Scale for enterprise-scale applications and data management. The vulnerability specifically enables remote authenticated users to execute phishing attacks, which can compromise the integrity of administrative sessions and potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The monitoring console serves as a critical interface for administrators to oversee distributed applications and manage system performance, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit authentication mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user inputs within the monitoring console interface. While the exact attack vectors remain unspecified in the CVE description, the flaw likely involves improper handling of web requests or session management that allows authenticated users to manipulate console behavior. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-79 which addresses cross-site scripting attacks, or CWE-352 which covers cross-site request forgery. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be executed within the context of authenticated sessions, potentially redirecting users to malicious sites or injecting harmful content into the monitoring interface. The authentication requirement means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage the monitoring console's trusted environment to execute phishing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5394 extends beyond simple phishing attacks as it can compromise the overall security posture of organizations using IBM WebSphere eXtreme Scale. When attackers can manipulate the monitoring console, they gain the ability to intercept legitimate administrative activities, potentially capturing sensitive session information or redirecting users to attacker-controlled domains. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of the monitoring system, as administrators may unknowingly interact with malicious content that appears to originate from legitimate system interfaces. The attack can result in credential theft, unauthorized system modifications, or the establishment of persistent access points within the enterprise network. Organizations may experience cascading security issues as compromised monitoring sessions can provide attackers with insights into system architecture, resource usage patterns, and potential attack vectors for further exploitation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from IBM, reviewing and strengthening authentication controls, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to monitoring consoles. Security professionals should also consider deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter traffic to monitoring interfaces, while conducting thorough penetration testing to identify potential exploitation paths. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and defense evasion, as attackers can use compromised monitoring interfaces to maintain persistence and avoid detection. Regular security assessments of administrative interfaces should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of administrative activities to detect anomalous behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication for monitoring console access and establishing strict access control policies can significantly reduce the risk associated with this vulnerability.