CVE-2015-0127 in Leads
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Leads 7.x, 8.1.0 before 8.1.0.14, 8.2, 8.5.0 before 8.5.0.7.3, 8.6.0 before 8.6.0.8.1, 9.0.0 through 9.0.0.4, 9.1.0 before 9.1.0.6.1, and 9.1.1 before 9.1.1.0.2 does not properly restrict use of FRAME elements, which allows remote authenticated users to conduct phishing attacks via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2019
IBM Leads versions 7.x through 9.1.1 are vulnerable to improper restriction of FRAME elements that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute phishing attacks through malicious websites. This vulnerability falls under CWE-74, which addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in web browsers, specifically targeting the frame element handling mechanism. The flaw exists in the web application framework's content security policies where FRAME elements are not adequately validated or restricted, allowing attackers to embed malicious content within legitimate-looking frames that can deceive users into believing they are interacting with trusted applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within IBM Leads' web interface rendering components. When legitimate users access crafted web pages containing malicious FRAME elements, the application fails to properly sanitize or restrict these elements, enabling attackers to create deceptive user interfaces that mimic legitimate application screens. This represents a classic cross-site scripting and phishing vector where the attacker leverages the legitimate application's domain to bypass user security warnings and establish trust with the victim.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attempts as it enables sophisticated social engineering campaigns targeting enterprise users who may have elevated privileges within the IBM Leads environment. Attackers can craft malicious sites that appear to be legitimate application interfaces, potentially capturing user credentials, session tokens, or sensitive data transmitted through the framed application components. The vulnerability affects multiple major versions of IBM Leads, indicating a systemic flaw in the framework's security architecture rather than an isolated incident, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with widespread IBM Leads deployments.
Organizations should immediately apply the relevant security patches provided by IBM for each affected version, specifically targeting the frame element restriction mechanisms that were enhanced in the subsequent releases. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive web application firewall rules that monitor and filter frame-related content, implementation of strict content security policies that prevent unauthorized frame embedding, and regular security assessments of web applications that utilize IBM Leads components. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying application authenticity and recognizing potential phishing attempts that exploit legitimate application domains to establish trust with victims. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing browser-based attacks and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for phishing and T1203 for exploitation of web applications.