CVE-2014-6121 in Security AppScan Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Security AppScan Enterprise 8.5 before 8.5 IFix 002, 8.6 before 8.6 IFix 004, 8.7 before 8.7 IFix 004, 8.8 before 8.8 iFix 003, 9.0 before 9.0.0.1 iFix 003, and 9.0.1 before 9.0.1 iFix 001 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6121 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Security AppScan Enterprise versions prior to specific iFix releases. This vulnerability affects multiple major versions including 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 9.0, and 9.0.1, creating a widespread security concern for organizations relying on these security scanning tools. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied input within URL parameters, specifically when processing crafted URLs that contain malicious script content. This vulnerability operates under the CWE-79 classification as a classic cross-site scripting attack vector, where improperly sanitized input allows attackers to inject executable code into web pages viewed by other users. The security implications are particularly severe given that the vulnerability affects a security tool itself, potentially allowing malicious actors to compromise the very system designed to protect network infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid authentication credentials to the AppScan Enterprise system, as the flaw operates on authenticated user sessions. Attackers can construct specially crafted URLs containing malicious JavaScript payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable application, get executed in the context of other authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's URL parameter handling routines. When users navigate to these crafted URLs or when the application processes them in its interface, the malicious code executes in the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the target environment. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, and T1059.007 for command and control through script-based payloads.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6121 extends beyond typical XSS consequences given that AppScan Enterprise is a security tool used for identifying vulnerabilities in other systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain access to sensitive scan results, configuration data, or even manipulate the scanning process itself to avoid detection of malicious activities within the target network. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face the risk of compromised security assessments, potential data leakage from scan reports, and the possibility that the attacker could use the compromised system as a staging area for further attacks against the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the security tool's output, which could lead to false negatives in vulnerability detection or provide attackers with insights into the organization's security posture. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it allows for persistent malicious activities within the security tool's operational environment, potentially enabling long-term reconnaissance or privilege escalation attacks.
Organizations should immediately apply the relevant iFix releases mentioned in the vulnerability description to remediate this issue across all affected versions of IBM Security AppScan Enterprise. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing strict input validation controls, output encoding, and ensuring that all user-supplied content is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed within the application interface. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns can provide additional defensive layers, while regular security assessments of the security tool itself should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The implementation of web application firewalls and content security policies can help reduce the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication and principle of least privilege access controls for the AppScan Enterprise system to limit the potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of securing security tools themselves, as they often become prime targets for attackers seeking to compromise the overall security posture of an organization.