CVE-2015-1952 in AppScan Enterprise Edition
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM AppScan Enterprise Edition 9.0.x before 9.0.2 iFix 001 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors. IBM X-Force ID: 103416.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1952 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM AppScan Enterprise Edition version 9.0.x prior to the 9.0.2 iFix 001 release. This security weakness exists in the web application framework of the security scanning tool, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's handling of user input and output sanitization mechanisms, allowing remote attackers to inject malicious scripts that can be executed by other users interacting with the vulnerable system.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the IBM AppScan Enterprise Edition interface, which suggests the flaw may be present in multiple input validation points or user interface components. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically in web applications where user-supplied data is improperly handled and reflected back to users without adequate security controls. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web applications, or redirection to malicious sites that can further compromise user systems. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can be used to bypass security controls and escalate privileges within the application's environment.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on IBM AppScan Enterprise Edition for security assessments and vulnerability management. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit the flaw from outside the organization's network perimeter, potentially compromising the security scanning capabilities of the tool itself. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can manipulate the very tool designed to identify security weaknesses, potentially disabling or subverting security monitoring functions. The vulnerability could enable attackers to access sensitive scan results, modify security configurations, or even use the compromised system as a staging ground for further attacks against the organization's network infrastructure.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by applying the 9.0.2 iFix 001 patch provided by IBM to address this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, input validation mechanisms, and regular security assessments of the application environment. Security teams should monitor for any suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts and consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and following proper patch management procedures, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also review their security monitoring capabilities to ensure they can detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive logging of application activities to support forensic investigations should the vulnerability be successfully targeted.