CVE-2015-1888 in Content Navigator
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Content Navigator 2.0.2 before 2.0.2-ICN-FP007 and 2.0.3 before 2.0.3-ICN-FP003, as used in Content Manager, FileNet Content Manager, Content Foundation, Content Manager OnDemand, and other products, allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1888 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting IBM Content Navigator versions 2.0.2 prior to 2.0.2-ICN-FP007 and 2.0.3 prior to 2.0.3-ICN-FP003. This security weakness manifests within IBM's content management ecosystem, which includes products such as Content Manager, FileNet Content Manager, Content Foundation, and Content Manager OnDemand. The vulnerability specifically enables authenticated remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content through carefully crafted URLs, exploiting a fundamental flaw in the application's input validation mechanisms. The affected systems operate within enterprise content management environments where users interact with document repositories and content navigation interfaces, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in corporate settings where sensitive information is stored and accessed.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within URL parameters that are processed by the IBM Content Navigator application. When authenticated users navigate to maliciously crafted URLs containing script payloads, the application fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before rendering them in the user interface. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or privilege escalation. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web interface components that handle URL routing and parameter processing. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a well-established category of web application vulnerabilities that directly enables XSS attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged to compromise entire user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the content management environment. An attacker with valid credentials can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by other authenticated users, would execute malicious code in their browsers. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive documents, modification of content, or even complete system compromise if the victim has elevated privileges. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that unauthorized external users cannot exploit this vulnerability directly, but it becomes particularly dangerous when attackers have already gained legitimate access to the system or can compromise user credentials through social engineering or other means. The vulnerability affects multiple IBM products within the content management suite, amplifying its potential impact across enterprise environments that utilize these platforms.
Organizations affected by CVE-2015-1888 should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security fixes and patches released as part of the ICN-FP007 and ICN-FP003 updates. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls to detect and block suspicious URL patterns. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that the XSS vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing regressions in functionality. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous user behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, and user education programs should be implemented to raise awareness about the risks of clicking suspicious links. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566: Phishing and T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to deliver malicious payloads through web-based attacks and execute code in victim environments. The vulnerability also aligns with T1071: Application Layer Protocol, as it exploits web application protocols to deliver malicious content. Organizations should also consider implementing defense-in-depth strategies including network segmentation, privileged access management, and regular security assessments to reduce the overall attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in their content management infrastructure.