CVE-2014-0825 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in openreport.jsp in IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.x before 7.1.1.12 IFIX.20140321-1336 and 7.5.x before 7.5.0.5 IFIX006; SmartCloud Control Desk 7.x before 7.5.0.3 and 7.5.1.x before 7.5.1.2; and Tivoli IT Asset Management for IT, Tivoli Service Request Manager, Maximo Service Desk, and Change and Configuration Management Database (CCMDB) 7.x before 7.1.1.12 IFIX.20140218-1510 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted report parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2018
The CVE-2014-0825 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple IBM Maximo and SmartCloud products, specifically targeting the openreport.jsp component. This vulnerability resides in the report parameter handling mechanism where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web responses. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious script code through crafted report parameters, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive data and system compromise. The vulnerability affects IBM Maximo Asset Management versions 7.x before 7.1.1.12 IFIX.20140321-1336 and 7.5.x before 7.5.0.5 IFIX006, as well as SmartCloud Control Desk 7.x before 7.5.0.3 and 7.5.1.x before 7.5.1.2, along with several other IBM IT management products including Tivoli IT Asset Management for IT, Tivoli Service Request Manager, Maximo Service Desk, and Change and Configuration Management Database. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw that occurs when untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user context, meaning attackers must first establish valid credentials to the system before attempting to inject malicious scripts. The flaw manifests when the application processes report parameters that contain HTML or JavaScript code, which is then reflected back to other users who view the report. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands on behalf of other users. The attack vector specifically targets the report generation functionality where user input is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without adequate output encoding or validation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) as attackers could leverage this flaw to deliver malicious payloads through compromised report functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0825 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to manipulate the entire reporting ecosystem within these enterprise management platforms. Organizations using affected versions face potential exposure of sensitive asset information, service requests, and configuration data through maliciously crafted reports that could be viewed by other authenticated users. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple IBM product lines indicates a systemic issue in the input validation and output encoding mechanisms shared among these applications. Attackers could potentially create reports that appear legitimate to end users while executing malicious code in their browsers, leading to unauthorized access to confidential business data and system integrity compromise. The vulnerability's presence in both major release lines 7.1 and 7.5 suggests that the underlying flaw in parameter handling was not adequately addressed in the product development lifecycle.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided IFIX patches for their specific product versions, implementing web application firewalls to filter suspicious input patterns, and conducting thorough code reviews of report parameter handling functions. Additional protective measures include enabling strict output encoding for all dynamic content, implementing proper input validation routines, and establishing monitoring for unusual report generation activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and proper input sanitization as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their enterprise software environments. Regular patch management processes and security awareness training for system administrators can significantly reduce the risk exposure associated with such persistent vulnerabilities in enterprise asset management systems.