CVE-2014-0850 in Infosphere Master Data Management Reference Data Management Hub
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Reference Data Management (RDM) Hub 10.1 and 11.0 before 11.0.0.0-MDM-IF008 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0850 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Reference Data Management Hub versions 10.1 and 11.0 prior to 11.0.0.0-MDM-IF008. This security weakness resides in the web application layer of the reference data management system, which is designed to manage and govern enterprise master data across various business domains. The vulnerability specifically affects the URL handling mechanism within the application's user interface, where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to the browser. This flaw enables authenticated attackers who already possess valid credentials to exploit the system by crafting malicious URLs that contain embedded script code, thereby bypassing the application's built-in security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the web application framework. When the system processes user-provided URLs containing malicious script payloads, it fails to adequately escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any legitimate user with access privileges can potentially leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' sessions. Attackers could craft URLs that, when clicked by victims, would execute arbitrary JavaScript code, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user's privileges within the application environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited for various malicious activities within the enterprise environment. An attacker with access to the reference data management system could use this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even inject malicious content that could propagate to other users within the same organization. The affected IBM InfoSphere platform serves as a critical component for managing master data across enterprise applications, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially compromise the integrity of master data, which is fundamental to business operations and regulatory compliance. The vulnerability affects not only individual user sessions but also the overall data governance framework, as malicious scripts could potentially access or modify reference data records that are critical for business processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application stack. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch version 11.0.0.0-MDM-IF008 or equivalent security updates that address the specific XSS flaw in the URL processing functionality. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies and input sanitization routines can provide defense-in-depth measures that would prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited even if other controls fail. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious URL patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. The implementation of secure coding practices, including proper HTML escaping and input validation, should be enforced across all web application components that handle user-supplied data. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their master data management infrastructure, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust input validation mechanisms in enterprise web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for script injection, highlighting the need for comprehensive application security controls that address multiple attack vectors within the software development lifecycle.