CVE-2015-0139 in WebSphere Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Portal 8.0.0 through 8.0.0.1 CF15 and 8.5.0 before CF05 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2022
The CVE-2015-0139 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Portal versions 8.0.0 through 8.0.0.1 CF15 and 8.5.0 before CF05. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the portal's input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into URLs that are subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent threat vector within the web application environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters that are not adequately validated or sanitized by the WebSphere Portal server. When an authenticated user navigates to a crafted URL containing malicious script code, the portal fails to properly escape or filter the input before rendering it in the web page context. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability specifically affects the portal's handling of URL parameters and web content rendering processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0139 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the portal environment. Since the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, attackers who have legitimate user credentials can leverage this flaw to compromise other users within the same portal instance. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on WebSphere Portal for business-critical applications, as the vulnerability can be used to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or manipulate portal functionality. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be delivered through seemingly legitimate URLs that appear to be part of normal portal navigation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for WebSphere Portal versions affected by this vulnerability. The IBM Security Bulletin for this vulnerability recommends upgrading to the latest cumulative fixes for both the 8.0.0 and 8.5.0 release lines. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual URL patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Input validation controls should be strengthened to ensure all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before processing, with particular attention to URL parameters and web content rendering components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper input validation as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's persistence and privilege escalation tactics.