CVE-2013-6743 in Sametime
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Meeting Server in IBM Sametime 8.5.2 through 8.5.2.1 and 9.x through 9.0.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving an IMG element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2019
The CVE-2013-6743 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Sametime's Meeting Server component, affecting versions 8.5.2 through 8.5.2.1 and 9.x through 9.0.0.1. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as an injection flaw that permits malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability specifically exploits the processing of IMG elements within the Meeting Server's web interface, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to inject malicious content that can be executed by other users who view the affected content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper sanitization of user input when processing IMG tags within the Meeting Server's web application interface. When authenticated users interact with meeting content that contains malicious IMG elements, the server fails to adequately validate or escape the input before rendering it to other users. This flaw allows attackers to craft specially formatted meeting invitations or content that includes malicious script tags within IMG attributes, potentially leveraging the IMG element's src attribute to execute arbitrary JavaScript code. The vulnerability specifically targets the web-based components of the Sametime platform, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where meeting invitations and collaborative content are frequently shared among users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating potential for significant security breaches within IBM Sametime environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The authenticated nature of the attack means that adversaries need only obtain valid credentials to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where credential compromise is possible. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of collaborative communications, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive meeting content, manipulate meeting schedules, or establish persistent access through session hijacking techniques that align with ATT&CK technique T1531 for Account Access Removal and T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS.
Organizations affected by CVE-2013-6743 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates, implementing robust input validation mechanisms, and conducting thorough security assessments of their Sametime environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper output encoding and input sanitization in web applications, particularly those handling collaborative content and user-generated data. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious IMG element patterns and establish monitoring procedures for unusual meeting content creation or modification activities. Additionally, organizations should review their credential management practices and implement multi-factor authentication to limit the impact of credential compromise, as this vulnerability requires only authenticated access to exploit effectively. The flaw underscores the critical need for regular security assessments and patch management processes to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in enterprise collaboration platforms.