CVE-2014-3035 in Emptoris Spend Analysis
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Emptoris Spend Analysis 9.5.x before 9.5.0.4, 10.0.1.x before 10.0.1.3, and 10.0.2.x before 10.0.2.4 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3035 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Emptoris Spend Analysis software across multiple version ranges. This weakness specifically affects versions 9.5.x prior to 9.5.0.4, 10.0.1.x prior to 10.0.1.3, and 10.0.2.x prior to 10.0.2.4, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this spend analysis platform. The flaw resides in how the application processes and handles URL parameters, allowing authenticated users to craft malicious URLs that can execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the application's web interface. When authenticated users submit crafted URLs containing malicious script payloads, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before rendering them in web pages. This processing gap enables attackers to inject HTML content that executes in the browser context of other legitimate users who subsequently access the vulnerable application. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, where the application does not adequately validate or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the application's functionality and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive procurement data. An attacker with valid credentials can leverage this weakness to execute malicious code within the browser of other users, potentially leading to complete compromise of the spend analysis environment. The authenticated nature of the attack means that the vulnerability requires legitimate user credentials but does not necessitate elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users maintain access to the system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of official patches released by IBM for the affected version ranges. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper input validation controls and output encoding mechanisms to prevent the execution of malicious scripts. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns that might indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks including the use of malicious links and payloads to compromise systems through web-based attacks.