CVE-2015-1981 in Lotus Domino Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web server in IBM Domino 8.5.x before 8.5.3 FP6 IF8 and 9.x before 9.0.1 FP4, when Webmail is enabled, allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, aka SPR KLYH9WYPR5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1981 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Domino web server implementations. This security weakness affects versions 8.5.x prior to 8.5.3 FP6 IF8 and 9.x prior to 9.0.1 FP4 when the Webmail feature is enabled. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages authenticated user sessions to execute malicious web scripts or HTML content within the target environment. The flaw specifically manifests when users navigate to crafted URLs that contain malicious payloads designed to exploit the web server's insufficient input validation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters within the Domino web server's Webmail functionality. When authenticated users access specially crafted URLs, the web server fails to properly sanitize or validate the input parameters, allowing malicious code to be executed within the context of the user's browser session. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored or reflected XSS attack depending on how the malicious payload is delivered and processed by the server. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes the use of malicious links or URLs to execute code in the victim's browser environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the context of authenticated sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to compromise user accounts, access confidential data, or establish persistent access points within the targeted environment. The authenticated nature of the attack means that adversaries need only obtain valid user credentials to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where legitimate users regularly access Webmail functionality. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to execute code in the browser context of authenticated users, potentially leading to complete account compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1981 should focus on immediate patch deployment for affected IBM Domino versions, ensuring that all systems are updated to the patched releases that address the input validation deficiencies. Organizations should also implement robust web application firewalls and input sanitization measures to prevent malicious URL parameters from being processed by the web server. Additional defensive measures include enabling strict content security policies, implementing proper output encoding for all dynamic content, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's impact is further mitigated through user education regarding suspicious URL patterns and the implementation of network segmentation to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous URL access patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of this or similar vulnerabilities.