CVE-2015-1979 in Case Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Error dialog in IBM Case Manager 5.2.1 before 5.2.1.2 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted input to the (1) addressability or (2) comments component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1979 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Case Manager 5.2.1 before 5.2.1.2, specifically targeting the Error dialog functionality. This issue affects authenticated users who can manipulate input fields within the addressability and comments components of the system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the error dialog interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious web scripts or HTML content through carefully crafted input that bypasses the application's security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The flaw exists in the error handling mechanism of IBM Case Manager, where user input is directly reflected in error dialogs without adequate sanitization. When authenticated users encounter system errors, the application displays error messages containing the malicious input, which then executes in the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to potentially compromise the entire user session and access sensitive case management data. Since the vulnerability affects authenticated users, attackers can exploit it to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to case information, potentially leading to data breaches or system compromise. The error dialog component serves as a critical interface point where system issues are communicated to users, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by potentially compromising Confidentiality through unauthorized data access and Integrity through malicious code injection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1979 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding controls throughout the IBM Case Manager application. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches or updates that address this vulnerability, as IBM released version 5.2.1.2 to resolve these issues. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies and regular security testing can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews of error handling components and the implementation of secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations for preventing XSS attacks. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should also be configured to detect potential exploitation attempts involving malicious script injection in error dialog components. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect enterprise case management systems from sophisticated web-based attacks.