CVE-2014-8911 in Content Navigator
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Content Navigator 2.0.0 and 2.0.1 before 2.0.1.2 FP002 IF003 and 2.0.3 before 2.0.3.2 FP002 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Accept-Language HTTP header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8911 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Content Navigator versions 2.0.0 and 2.0.1 prior to 2.0.1.2 FP002 IF003, and versions 2.0.3 prior to 2.0.3.2 FP002. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of HTTP headers, specifically the Accept-Language header which is commonly used by web browsers to indicate preferred language settings for content localization. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper sanitization of input data within the Accept-Language HTTP header. When IBM Content Navigator processes this header without adequate validation or encoding, malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed by the browser of any user who encounters the compromised application interface. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without appropriate sanitization or encoding measures. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations utilizing IBM Content Navigator for document management and content delivery. The remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit this flaw without requiring physical access to the network or system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where content navigation systems handle sensitive business data. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software, indicating a widespread exposure across different deployments, which increases the potential attack surface for threat actors. The impact is further amplified by the fact that the Accept-Language header is automatically sent by web browsers, making successful exploitation more likely and harder to detect.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided fixes including the 2.0.1.2 FP002 IF003 and 2.0.3.2 FP002 patches to remediate this vulnerability. In the interim, network administrators should implement additional protective measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious Accept-Language header content, or implement strict input validation rules at the network perimeter. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in HTTP header processing, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized users can access the affected content navigator interfaces. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which involves the exploitation of web applications through various injection methods, and demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in preventing such attacks. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing workflows or integrations within the content management environment.