CVE-2015-4955 in Business Process Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Business Process Manager (BPM) 8.0.x through 8.0.1.3, 8.5.0 through 8.5.0.1, 8.5.5 through 8.5.5.0, and 8.5.6 before 8.5.6.0 CF1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2015-4955 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in IBM Business Process Manager versions spanning multiple release lines including 8.0.x through 8.0.1.3, 8.5.0 through 8.5.0.1, 8.5.5 through 8.5.5.0, and 8.5.6 before 8.5.6.0 CF1. This vulnerability specifically affects the web application interface of IBM BPM and enables remote authenticated attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's URL handling functionality, creating a pathway for attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's user interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper sanitization of user-supplied URL parameters within the IBM BPM web interface. When authenticated users interact with specially crafted URLs containing malicious script payloads, the application fails to properly encode or validate these inputs before rendering them in web responses. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed in the browser context of legitimate users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the application. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly escape or encode user-controllable data before incorporating it into web content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing IBM BPM solutions, as it requires only authenticated access to exploit. Attackers who can establish valid user sessions within the BPM environment can leverage this weakness to compromise other users within the same system. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to include potential data breaches, privilege escalation, and unauthorized access to business process information. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face increased risk of insider threat exploitation, as the vulnerability can be weaponized by malicious employees or compromised accounts with legitimate access to the BPM system. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that BPM systems typically handle sensitive business processes and may contain confidential workflow data, making the potential impact of XSS exploitation substantial.
The exploitation of CVE-2015-4955 aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access and execution phases. Attackers can use this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the BPM environment. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers spearphishing with a malicious attachment or link, as the malicious URLs could be delivered through social engineering campaigns targeting BPM users. Organizations should implement comprehensive security measures including input validation, output encoding, and regular security updates to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy includes applying the appropriate IBM security patches and updates, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of the BPM environment to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls and monitoring of user activities within BPM systems to detect potential exploitation attempts.