CVE-2014-8897 in Infosphere Master Data Management Collaborative Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Collaboration Server in IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Server for Product Information Management 9.x through 9.1 and InfoSphere Master Data Management - Collaborative Edition 10.x through 10.1, 11.0 before FP7, and 11.3 and 11.4 before 11.4 FP1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8897 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Server product line, specifically affecting Collaboration Server components across multiple version ranges. This security weakness resides in the web application layer where user input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize or escape potentially malicious content submitted through URL parameters. The vulnerability affects both the Product Information Management 9.x through 9.1 versions and the Collaborative Edition 10.x through 10.1, 11.0 before fix pack 7, and 11.3 and 11.4 before 11.4 fix pack 1. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the application's URL handling mechanism. When authenticated users navigate to specially crafted URLs containing malicious script payloads, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before rendering them in web responses. This weakness aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate escaping or validation. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user-supplied parameters are directly reflected in HTTP responses, creating an ideal environment for XSS exploitation. Attackers can leverage this flaw by constructing malicious URLs that contain script code within URL parameters, which are then executed in the victim's browser when the page is loaded, potentially bypassing standard security measures such as content security policies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, presenting significant risks to enterprise data integrity and user security within IBM InfoSphere environments. Remote authenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The fact that this affects collaboration server functionality means that users engaged in master data management activities could be compromised during routine operations, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive master data sets. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams including 9.x, 10.x, 11.0, 11.3, and 11.4 demonstrates the widespread nature of the flaw, affecting organizations using various iterations of IBM's master data management solutions. This creates a substantial risk for enterprises maintaining these systems, particularly those handling sensitive product information or customer data within their master data management frameworks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security fix packs and hotfixes that address the specific XSS implementation flaws. System administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities as additional protective layers, while also reviewing and strengthening input validation mechanisms within the affected applications. The implementation of proper output encoding for all user-supplied content, particularly URL parameters, represents a fundamental security control that can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their InfoSphere deployments to identify other potential input validation weaknesses, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security gaps in the application's handling of user-supplied data. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566, which specifically addresses credential access through the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams managing master data management systems. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect similar issues in other enterprise applications and ensure that proper security controls are maintained throughout the organization's IT infrastructure.