CVE-2014-6101 in Business Process Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the redirect-login feature in IBM Business Process Manager (BPM) Advanced 7.5 through 8.5.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6101 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Business Process Manager Advanced versions 7.5 through 8.5.5, specifically affecting the redirect-login functionality. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing it within the application's authentication flow. The vulnerability exists in the way the system handles redirect parameters during the login process, where malicious actors can manipulate URL parameters to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted URLs that contain malicious script payloads within the redirect parameter. When the vulnerable IBM BPM application processes these URLs, it fails to adequately validate or encode the input data, allowing attackers to inject HTML and JavaScript code that gets executed in the victim's browser. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web pages. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the legitimate redirect functionality that users expect to work properly, making it more difficult to detect and mitigate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially impersonate authenticated users, access sensitive business process information, manipulate workflow processes, and gain unauthorized access to confidential data within the BPM environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that IBM BPM is typically used in enterprise environments where it handles critical business processes and sensitive data. This vulnerability directly maps to several tactics in the MITRE ATT&CK framework including T1566 - Phishing and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage the XSS to harvest session tokens or credentials from authenticated users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6101 should include immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls within the redirect-login feature, ensuring all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before processing. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The most effective remediation involves applying the official IBM security patches and updates released for affected versions of IBM Business Process Manager. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous redirect patterns and potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive code reviews of authentication flows and implement proper web application firewall rules to block suspicious URL patterns. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be performed to identify similar issues in other components of the BPM environment, as this vulnerability represents a broader class of web application security flaws that may exist in other parts of the system.