CVE-2014-6079 in Security Access Manager For Web 8.0
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Local Management Interface in IBM Security Access Manager for Web 7.x before 7.0.0-ISS-WGA-IF0009 and 8.x before 8.0.0-ISS-WGA-FP0005, and Security Access Manager for Mobile 8.x before 8.0.0-ISS-ISAM-FP0005, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2018
The CVE-2014-6079 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Security Access Manager products, specifically affecting versions prior to designated security patches. This vulnerability resides in the Local Management Interface component of the web security platform, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to execute arbitrary web scripts and HTML code. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious content through carefully crafted URLs, fundamentally compromising the security posture of affected systems. The vulnerability affects multiple product lines including IBM Security Access Manager for Web 7.x and 8.x versions, as well as Security Access Manager for Mobile 8.x, demonstrating the widespread nature of this particular weakness across IBM's security portfolio.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the Local Management Interface of IBM Security Access Manager. When the system processes user-supplied URL parameters without proper sanitization, it fails to properly escape or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This insufficient sanitization allows attackers to craft malicious URLs that, when processed by the vulnerable interface, execute unintended scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where applications fail to properly validate or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates over remote network connections without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can access the vulnerable interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within compromised environments. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirect victims to malicious sites for phishing attacks. The Local Management Interface typically requires administrative privileges, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for organizations relying on these security products. The vulnerability could enable attackers to gain elevated privileges within the security infrastructure, potentially allowing them to manipulate access controls, modify security policies, or even compromise the entire security framework. This represents a significant threat to enterprise security operations where the management interface serves as a critical control point for security policy enforcement and user access management.
Organizations affected by CVE-2014-6079 should immediately implement the vendor-provided security patches and updates for their IBM Security Access Manager installations. The remediation process requires updating to the specified fixed versions including 7.0.0-ISS-WGA-IF0009 for web products and 8.0.0-ISS-WGA-FP0005 for web 8.x, along with 8.0.0-ISS-ISAM-FP0005 for mobile products. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected installations and ensure proper patch deployment across all environments. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit exposure of the Local Management Interface to trusted networks only, following defense-in-depth principles. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider monitoring for suspicious URL patterns and implementing proper input validation mechanisms throughout their web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter to prevent exploitation of similar injection vulnerabilities in their broader security infrastructure.