CVE-2015-4971 in Management Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Emptoris Strategic Supply Management Platform and Emptoris Program Management 10.x before 10.0.1.4_iFix3, 10.0.2.x before 10.0.2.7_iFix1, 10.0.3.x before 10.0.3.2, and 10.0.4.x before 10.0.4.0_iFix1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2018
The CVE-2015-4971 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Emptoris Strategic Supply Management Platform and Emptoris Program Management versions spanning multiple release lines. This vulnerability specifically affects systems running version 10.x before the specified iFix releases, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these supply chain management solutions. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through carefully crafted URLs, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a common weakness in web application security. The technical implementation flaw occurs in the platform's handling of user-supplied input within URL parameters, where proper sanitization and validation mechanisms fail to adequately filter malicious content. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially inject malicious code that will execute in the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can manipulate the application's behavior and access sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. Attackers could craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by authenticated users, would execute scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify application functionality. The affected versions span multiple minor releases, indicating a widespread issue that would have impacted numerous organizations using these supply chain management platforms. Organizations relying on these systems for procurement, supplier management, and program oversight would face significant risks to their operational security and data confidentiality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of the vendor-provided iFix patches, which address the root cause by implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious URL patterns, while security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious URL behavior and regular security monitoring of application logs can help detect unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should also review their access control policies to ensure least privilege principles are maintained, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches in enterprise applications and highlights the need for robust input validation practices in web application development.