CVE-2015-7402 in Curam Social Program Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Curam Social Program Management 6.1 before 6.1.1.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7402 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Curam Social Program Management version 6.1 prior to 6.1.1.1. 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 authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability specifically affects the social program management functionality of the IBM Curam platform, which is designed to facilitate community engagement and social services management for organizations.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web interface. When authenticated users navigate to specially crafted URLs containing malicious script payloads, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the user's browser. This failure allows attackers to inject JavaScript code or HTML elements that execute in the context of other users' sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user accounts. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS issue since the malicious content can be stored and subsequently executed whenever affected users access the compromised URLs.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing IBM Curam Social Program Management for sensitive social services delivery. The authenticated nature of the attack means that adversaries must first obtain valid user credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges within the system. The impact extends beyond simple script execution, as attackers could potentially redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or modify application behavior. Given that social program management systems often handle confidential personal information, including beneficiary details, health records, and social service data, the potential for data breaches and privacy violations is substantial. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications.
The exploitation of CVE-2015-7402 follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers use web-based scripting languages to manipulate application behavior. Organizations using this software face potential compromise of their entire social program management ecosystem, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive beneficiary data, manipulation of social service records, and potential disruption of critical community services. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in environments where social services management involves vulnerable populations, as the confidentiality and integrity of personal information could be compromised. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a common weakness in web applications that fail to implement proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, making it a prime example of how insufficient security controls in web interfaces can create persistent threats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7402 should focus on immediate patch deployment to IBM Curam Social Program Management 6.1.1.1 or later versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations must also implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms and output encoding for all user-supplied data within URL parameters. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies, regular security code reviews, and user education regarding the dangers of clicking suspicious links. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security practices to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in enterprise applications.