CVE-2015-1910 in InfoSphere Master Data Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Reference Data Management component in the server in IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management (MDM) 10.1 before IF1, 11.0 before FP3, and 11.3 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1910 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management's Reference Data Management component. This security weakness affects multiple versions of the MDM platform including 10.1 prior to IF1, 11.0 prior to FP3, and 11.3, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically resides in the server-side processing of user input within the reference data management functionality, where inadequate validation and sanitization of URL parameters occurs. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious URLs that contain embedded web scripts or HTML content, which then get executed in the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the server component that processes reference data management requests. When authenticated users interact with the system through URLs containing malicious payloads, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in web responses. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the browser of legitimate users who access the compromised URLs. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the user and the application, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only authentication to exploit rather than requiring additional privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. Remote authenticated users can potentially execute scripts that modify reference data, access sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the master data management system, potentially compromising the entire data governance framework that IBM InfoSphere MDM provides. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access patterns, manipulate reference data used across multiple business applications, or gather intelligence about the organization's data architecture and user base.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security fixes and patches for the identified versions of IBM InfoSphere MDM. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation rules that specifically target URL parameter sanitization. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-site Scripting flaws, and maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under Web Application Attack Techniques, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code in user browsers. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their MDM implementations to identify potential additional attack vectors and ensure proper input validation across all application components. Regular security monitoring and user access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.