CVE-2013-5402 in Maximo for Utilities
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Maximo Asset Management, Maximo Asset Management Essentials, Maximo for Government, Maximo for Nuclear Power, Maximo for Transportation, Maximo for Life Sciences, Maximo for Oil and Gas, and Maximo for Utilities 7.1.x through 7.1.1.12, 7.1.2, 7.5 before 7.5.0.3 IFIX014, and 7.5.0.5 before IFIX003; SmartCloud Control Desk (SCCD) 7.5 before 7.5.0.3 IFIX014 and 7.5.0.5 before IFIX003; and Tivoli Asset Management for IT, Tivoli Service Request Manager, Maximo Service Desk, and Change and Configuration Management Database (CCMDB) 7.1.x through 7.1.1.12, 7.1.2, and 7.2.x through 7.2.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2018
The CVE-2013-5402 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple IBM Maximo and SmartCloud Control Desk products across various versions. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a prevalent web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The affected software portfolio includes enterprise asset management solutions such as Maximo Asset Management, Maximo for Government, and various industry-specific variants, along with Tivoli Asset Management for IT and related service management platforms. The vulnerability impacts versions ranging from 7.1.x through 7.1.1.12, 7.1.2, 7.5 before specific IFIX releases, and 7.2.x through 7.2.1, indicating a widespread issue affecting enterprise-grade asset management systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application interfaces of these IBM products. Attackers with authenticated access can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious web scripts or HTML content through unspecified vectors within the application's user input fields, form submissions, or parameter handling mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages, creating an environment where malicious code can execute in the context of other users' browsers. This particular flaw demonstrates the importance of proper data validation and output encoding practices, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's web application exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive data, manipulate user interfaces, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected systems. Remote authenticated users can leverage this vulnerability to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of enterprise asset management data, potentially accessing sensitive information about assets, maintenance schedules, and operational procedures. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these applications typically handle critical business data and are often integrated with other enterprise systems, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for organizations relying on these platforms. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product variants suggests a systemic issue in the development and security review processes of these enterprise solutions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the specified IFIX patches for each affected product version. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the specific IFIX releases mentioned in the advisory, particularly IFIX014 for 7.5 versions and IFIX003 for 7.5.0.5 versions. Additionally, implementing proper input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security assessments can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging. Security teams should also consider network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring for suspicious user activities to reduce the potential impact of any exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.