CVE-2015-7459 in Connections
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Connections 3.0.1.1 and earlier, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 before CR4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors. IBM X-Force ID: 108355.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7459 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Connections software versions 3.0.1.1 and earlier, as well as 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 before cumulative release 4. This weakness falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically affects IBM Connections, a collaboration platform that enables organizations to share content, manage social networking features, and facilitate team-based work environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the IBM Connections application. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected pages. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the application could be compromised, including but not limited to user profile fields, discussion forums, document sharing components, or any interactive elements that process user input. This broad attack surface increases the potential impact and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where the platform handles sensitive business data and user information.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7459 extends beyond simple script injection, as it could enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to corporate resources. In the context of IBM Connections, which serves as a collaborative workspace for enterprise users, successful exploitation could lead to compromise of sensitive business communications, intellectual property theft, and disruption of collaborative workflows. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to systems or insider knowledge to exploit it, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on the platform for critical business operations. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing access to systems through web application vulnerabilities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of IBM's official patches and updates, particularly the cumulative release 4 (CR4) for IBM Connections 5.0. Security teams should implement additional mitigations such as web application firewalls, input validation controls, and output encoding mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the broader application ecosystem. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and following the principle of least privilege in collaboration platforms to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and monitoring user-generated content to detect and prevent malicious script injection attempts.