CVE-2015-5035 in Connections
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Connections 3.x before 3.0.1.1 CR3, 4.0 before CR4, 4.5 before CR5, and 5.0 before CR3 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5036.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-5035 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting IBM Connections versions across multiple release lines including 3.x before 3.0.1.1 CR3, 4.0 before CR4, 4.5 before CR5, and 5.0 before CR3. This vulnerability specifically targets the web application's handling of user-supplied input within URL parameters, creating a persistent security risk for authenticated users who interact with the platform. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising user sessions and accessing sensitive data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input, making it a classic example of an injection attack vector that undermines the fundamental security principles of web application design. IBM Connections, being a social business platform used for collaboration, document sharing, and communication, presents an attractive target for attackers seeking to exploit user trust and access privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters that are not properly validated or sanitized by the application's input processing mechanisms. When authenticated users navigate to a crafted URL containing malicious script code, the application fails to properly encode or escape the input before rendering it in web pages. This allows the injected JavaScript code to execute within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability differs from CVE-2015-5036, indicating that it operates through distinct attack vectors or code paths, though both represent serious security flaws in the platform's input handling capabilities. The attack requires only authentication to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised accounts to escalate privileges and compromise other users within the same organizational domain.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged to create sophisticated attack chains within enterprise environments. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by other authenticated users, could steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even inject backdoors for persistent access. The social nature of IBM Connections makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous since users often trust content shared within the platform, making the attack surface larger than typical web applications. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the platform, indicating a systemic issue in the input validation architecture rather than a localized bug, which suggests that organizations using any of these affected versions face similar risks. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as well as T1566 for credential access through social engineering.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of official IBM patches and updates, particularly targeting the specific release versions mentioned in the CVE description. The implementation of robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms should be enhanced across all web applications, with particular attention to URL parameter handling and user-supplied content processing. Security teams should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input validation should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other applications within the enterprise. Organizations should also implement user education programs to raise awareness about suspicious links and the potential risks of clicking untrusted URLs within collaborative platforms. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how even well-established enterprise platforms can contain critical flaws that require continuous monitoring and remediation efforts.