CVE-2015-0144 in OpenPages GRC Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM OpenPages GRC Platform 6.2 before IF7, 6.2.1 before 6.2.1.1 IF5, 7.0 before FP4, and 7.1 before FP1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-8916.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2018
The CVE-2015-0144 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM OpenPages GRC Platform versions prior to specific patch releases. This vulnerability affects multiple product versions including 6.2 before IF7, 6.2.1 before 6.2.1.1 IF5, 7.0 before FP4, and 7.1 before FP1, demonstrating the widespread nature of the flaw across the platform's release lifecycle. The vulnerability specifically resides in how the platform processes crafted URLs, creating an attack vector that allows authenticated remote users to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters that are not properly sanitized or validated by the OpenPages platform. When authenticated users navigate to maliciously crafted URLs, the platform fails to adequately filter or escape user-supplied input before rendering it in the web response. This processing gap creates an environment where attackers can inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML elements that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the platform's input handling mechanisms and output rendering processes, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages existing user sessions and privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, manipulate data within the platform, and potentially escalate privileges within the GRC environment. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by other authenticated users, execute scripts that can capture session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify content displayed within the platform. The authenticated nature of the attack means that the threat actor must already have legitimate access to the system, but this access provides sufficient privileges to exploit the vulnerability and potentially compromise the entire GRC platform. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications and demonstrates the critical need for input validation and output encoding in web security implementations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0144 require immediate patching of affected IBM OpenPages versions to the recommended service levels, specifically applying IF7 for 6.2, IF5 for 6.2.1.1, FP4 for 7.0, and FP1 for 7.1. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious URL patterns, enhanced input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, and regular security testing of URL handling components. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual URL patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security best practices such as implementing proper output encoding, using content security policies, and maintaining up-to-date security patches across all platform components. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security training for users to reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the potential for authenticated attacks to escalate into more severe security incidents within enterprise GRC platforms.