CVE-2015-7398 in Emptoris Contract Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Emptoris Contract Management 9.5.0.x before 9.5.0.6 iFix15, 10.0.0.x and 10.0.1.x before 10.0.1.5 iFix5, 10.0.2.x before 10.0.2.7 iFix4, and 10.0.4.x before 10.0.4.0 iFix3 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7398 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Emptoris Contract Management software across multiple version ranges. This vulnerability affects versions 9.5.0.x before 9.5.0.6 iFix15, 10.0.0.x and 10.0.1.x before 10.0.1.5 iFix5, 10.0.2.x before 10.0.2.7 iFix4, and 10.0.4.x before 10.0.4.0 iFix3. The flaw 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 authenticated user sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. This classification indicates that the software fails to properly validate or sanitize input data that flows into web pages without adequate encoding or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users, meaning attackers must first obtain valid credentials to exploit the flaw, but once compromised, they can leverage the vulnerability to execute malicious code against other users within the same application environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the contract management system. Given that Emptoris Contract Management handles sensitive business contract information, the potential for financial loss, intellectual property theft, or regulatory compliance violations is substantial. The vulnerability could allow attackers to access confidential contract details, manipulate contract terms, or even redirect users to malicious websites that could further compromise the organization's security posture.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Emptoris Contract Management should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided patches and fixes, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious input, and conducting thorough security assessments of user sessions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' as attackers could leverage the XSS flaw to execute JavaScript code in victims' browsers. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing content security policies, input validation controls, and regular security training for administrators to reduce the risk of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches in enterprise applications, particularly those handling sensitive business data, as the exploitation of such flaws can lead to cascading security incidents throughout an organization's network infrastructure.