CVE-2013-6196 in Autonomy Ultraseek
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in HP Autonomy Ultraseek 5 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2022
The CVE-2013-6196 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in HP Autonomy Ultraseek version 5, a web content management and search platform widely used by enterprises for indexing and retrieving document content. This vulnerability specifically affects authenticated users who can leverage the flaw to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on the platform for document management and search operations. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web interface, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads through unspecified vectors that typically involve user-controllable parameters in the application's request processing pipeline.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in web responses, which directly correlates to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially formatted requests that include malicious scripts in parameters or form fields, which are then processed and reflected back to other users without proper sanitization. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only authentication, meaning that insiders or attackers who have gained valid credentials can exploit the flaw without requiring additional privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-6196 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to escalate their privileges within the application's environment and potentially access sensitive corporate data. Organizations using HP Autonomy Ultraseek 5 may face unauthorized access to indexed documents, user session manipulation, and potential data exfiltration through the execution of malicious scripts that can harvest cookies or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the application's user session and potentially provide a foothold for further attacks within the network. This type of vulnerability also violates fundamental web application security principles and can result in compliance violations under standards such as iso 27001 and pci dss, which require proper input validation and output encoding to prevent injection attacks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls, proper web application firewall rules, and user access controls to limit the scope of potential exploitation. The vulnerability can be addressed through patching the application to version 5.0.1 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing content security policies, disabling unnecessary features, and conducting regular security assessments can help reduce the attack surface. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries leverage web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. The incident highlights the critical need for continuous security monitoring, proper access controls, and regular vulnerability assessments to prevent exploitation of similar flaws in enterprise web applications.