CVE-2015-7423 in InfoSphere Master Data Management
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management (MDM) - Collaborative Edition 9.1, 10.1, 11.0, 11.3, and 11.4 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors. IBM X-Force ID: 107771.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2015-7423 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Collaborative Edition across multiple versions including 9.1, 10.1, 11.0, 11.3, and 11.4. This security weakness falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a prevalent web application vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the collaborative edition of IBM MDM, which is designed to manage and integrate master data across enterprise systems, making it a critical component in data governance and master data management processes. The affected system allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of master data management operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the IBM InfoSphere MDM Collaborative Edition interface, where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web pages. This failure in input validation creates an environment where authenticated attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can potentially enable session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the MDM environment. Attackers could leverage this flaw to manipulate master data records, access sensitive information, or disrupt collaborative data management processes that rely on the integrity of the system's user interface components.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7423 is significant for organizations relying on IBM InfoSphere MDM for critical master data management functions. Given that this vulnerability affects the collaborative edition, which is designed for multi-user environments where data is shared and managed collectively, the potential for damage increases substantially. An attacker with valid credentials could exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that persist in the system, affecting all users who interact with the compromised interface. The vulnerability could enable attackers to access sensitive master data, modify data records, or establish persistent backdoors within the MDM environment, potentially compromising the entire data governance framework. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of master data assets.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released by IBM to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the attack surface and reduce the risk of unauthorized access to the MDM system. Input validation and output encoding mechanisms should be enhanced throughout the application to prevent script injection attacks, following secure coding practices recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and CWE guidelines. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the broader enterprise application landscape. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059 technique of Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts within the target environment. Additionally, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain leading to privilege escalation and lateral movement within the enterprise network, making it a critical target for immediate remediation.