CVE-2014-0952 in WebSphere Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in boot_config.jsp in IBM WebSphere Portal 6.1.0 through 6.1.0.6 CF27, 6.1.5 through 6.1.5.3 CF28, 7.0 through 7.0.0.2 CF28, and 8.0 before 8.0.0.1 CF12 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2021
The CVE-2014-0952 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in IBM WebSphere Portal versions ranging from 6.1.0 through 6.1.0.6 CF27, 6.1.5 through 6.1.5.3 CF28, 7.0 through 7.0.0.2 CF28, and 8.0 before 8.0.0.1 CF12. This vulnerability specifically affects the boot_config.jsp component within the portal framework, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on IBM WebSphere Portal for their enterprise web applications. The flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the boot_config.jsp file. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected portal pages. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be present across multiple input points within the configuration interface, potentially including parameters passed through HTTP requests, form fields, or other user-controllable inputs. This broad attack surface increases the likelihood of successful exploitation and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where the portal serves as a central hub for business applications and user interactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the portal environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal user credentials, access sensitive corporate data, or even gain administrative privileges within the WebSphere Portal framework. The implications are particularly severe for organizations that use WebSphere Portal for managing critical business applications, as the vulnerability could compromise the entire web application ecosystem. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for Account Access Removal and T1071.001 for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it allows for unauthorized access to portal resources and manipulation of web application behavior.
Organizations affected by CVE-2014-0952 should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of IBM's official security patches and updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations and implementing robust input validation mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security assessments of their portal environments. The incident underscores the critical need for continuous monitoring and vulnerability management processes, particularly for enterprise web applications that handle sensitive business data and user information. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure preparedness for potential exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in their web application infrastructure.