CVE-2013-6745 in Security Access Manager for Enterprise Single Sign-On
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the IMS server before Ifix 6 in IBM Security Access Manager for Enterprise Single Sign-On (ISAM ESSO) 8.2 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted input to an unspecified dynamic web form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6745 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Security Access Manager for Enterprise Single Sign-On version 8.2 prior to Ifix 6. This security weakness resides in the IMS server component and affects remote authenticated users who can exploit the vulnerability by submitting crafted input to an unspecified dynamic web form. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The specific nature of this vulnerability enables attackers with valid authentication credentials to manipulate web forms and execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the IMS server's dynamic web form processing mechanisms. When authenticated users submit data through these forms, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before rendering it back to the browser. This allows malicious actors to embed script tags, javascript code, or HTML elements that execute in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has already compromised legitimate user credentials can leverage this weakness to perform further attacks. The attack vector operates through the web form submission process, where the crafted input is processed by the IMS server and subsequently reflected back to the user interface without proper sanitization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on IBM ISAM ESSO for enterprise single sign-on operations. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The vulnerability undermines the core security principle of least privilege by allowing authenticated users to potentially escalate their privileges or compromise other users' sessions. Additionally, the impact extends beyond simple script execution as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to conduct more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, data exfiltration, or as a stepping stone for further network infiltration. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user credentials might be compromised through various means.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM Ifix 6 patch or later versions that address the XSS weakness in the IMS server component. Network segmentation and monitoring of web form submissions can provide additional layers of defense by detecting anomalous input patterns. Input validation should be strengthened at multiple layers including client-side and server-side validation to prevent malicious scripts from being processed. Security awareness training for administrators and users can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering and credential harvesting methods, while also representing a classic example of how authenticated users can be leveraged to perform privilege escalation attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include verification of input sanitization mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future application versions.