CVE-2015-4959 in Tivoli Federated Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Tivoli Federated Identity Manager (TFIM) 6.2.2 before FP16 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4959 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Tivoli Federated Identity Manager version 6.2.2 prior to fix pack FP16. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within URL parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize or validate URL components that are subsequently rendered in web interfaces, enabling attackers to craft malicious URLs that, when accessed by unsuspecting users, trigger the execution of unintended code.
This XSS vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications that are then executed in the browsers of other users who access the compromised pages. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and the redirection of users to malicious websites. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or network, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where TFIM is used for identity federation and single sign-on services.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on IBM TFIM for identity management, as it can compromise the integrity of the entire authentication and authorization framework. When exploited, the XSS attack can lead to unauthorized access to protected resources, data exfiltration, and the potential for privilege escalation within the federated identity environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to manipulate user sessions, access sensitive identity information, or redirect authenticated users to phishing sites designed to capture credentials. The attack vector through crafted URLs makes this vulnerability particularly insidious as it can be delivered via email, instant messaging, or any communication channel that might lead users to click on malicious links, potentially affecting a large number of users within the organization.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided fix pack FP16 which addresses the specific input validation issues in the URL handling components. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by filtering suspicious URL patterns and monitoring for known XSS attack signatures. Input validation should be strengthened at all entry points where user-supplied data is processed, particularly in URL parameters and query strings. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the broader identity management infrastructure. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper output encoding mechanisms when rendering user-supplied content, ensuring that any potentially malicious input is properly escaped before being displayed in web interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to further limit the execution of unauthorized scripts within their web applications.