CVE-2014-0855 in Connections Portlets
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in IBM Connections Portlets 4.x before 4.5.1 FP1 for IBM WebSphere Portal 7.0.0.2 and 8.0.0.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0855 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting IBM Connections Portlets version 4.x prior to 4.5.1 FP1 when deployed on IBM WebSphere Portal 7.0.0.2 and 8.0.0.1 platforms. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability's presence in the IBM Connections Portlets component specifically indicates a weakness in how the application processes and sanitizes user input within its web interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code in the context of affected user sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the IBM Connections Portlets framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed when other users view affected pages. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the portlet functionality could be compromised, potentially including form inputs, URL parameters, or user-generated content fields that are not properly sanitized before being rendered in web browsers. This lack of specific vector identification makes the vulnerability particularly concerning as it implies a broad attack surface across various user interaction points within the application's interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users, access sensitive data, or perform unauthorized actions within the application. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where IBM WebSphere Portal serves as a central collaboration platform. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the IBM WebSphere Portal, indicating a widespread potential impact across various organizational deployments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the available IBM fix pack 4.5.1 FP1, which specifically addresses the XSS vulnerabilities in the affected IBM Connections Portlets. Security teams should also implement additional protective measures such as web application firewalls, input validation rules, and regular security scanning of the portal environment. The ATT&CK framework's T1059.001 technique of 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell' or similar execution methods could be leveraged by attackers exploiting this vulnerability, making proactive defense measures essential. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security training for administrators can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected components within their IBM WebSphere Portal environments that might share similar security weaknesses.