CVE-2014-6096 in Security Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Security Identity Manager 6.x before 6.0.0.3 IF14 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6096 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Security Identity Manager version 6.x prior to 6.0.0.3 IF14. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within URL parameters, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-provided URL components before rendering them in web responses, thereby enabling attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed by other users who interact with the compromised application interface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in web applications where untrusted data is directly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious links, crafted URLs, or manipulated session parameters that are subsequently processed and displayed within the web interface. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive authentication tokens, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that IBM Security Identity Manager typically operates within enterprise environments where users have elevated privileges and access to sensitive identity management functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6096 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration within corporate networks. Given that IBM Security Identity Manager serves as a critical component for identity and access management, successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, modify identity data, or manipulate authentication processes. The vulnerability affects the application's web interface components where URL parameters are processed, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators or users frequently interact with the application through web browsers. This weakness can be exploited through phishing campaigns, social engineering, or by compromising legitimate user sessions through the injection of malicious scripts that persistently execute within the browser context.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided patch for IBM Security Identity Manager 6.0.0.3 IF14 and ensuring all users are running updated versions of the software. Network segmentation and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and filter suspicious URL patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Input validation and output encoding mechanisms should be strengthened throughout the application to prevent user-supplied data from being directly rendered in web contexts without proper sanitization. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious URL parameters and unusual traffic patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process should also involve user education on recognizing potentially malicious links and implementing proper security awareness training to prevent social engineering exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential XSS vulnerabilities within their web applications and ensure adherence to secure coding practices that prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.