CVE-2016-0255 in Marketing Platform
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Marketing Platform 9.1 and 10.0 is vulnerable to stored cross-site scripting, caused by improper validation of user-supplied input. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious script into a Web page which would be executed in a victim's Web browser within the security context of the hosting Web site, once the page is viewed. An attacker could use this vulnerability to steal the victim's cookie-based authentication credentials. IBM X-Force ID: 110564.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0255 affects IBM Marketing Platform versions 9.1 and 10.0, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security posture of web applications. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the platform's web interface, specifically failing to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing and rendering it in web pages. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-generated content, where malicious scripts are accepted and stored without proper sanitization, creating an environment where persistent XSS attacks can occur. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to inject malicious code that executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers, effectively bypassing traditional security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the CWE-79 pattern for cross-site scripting, where the application fails to validate or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. Attackers can exploit this by submitting malicious payloads through various input vectors within the marketing platform's interface, such as form fields, comments, or content management sections. Once the malicious script is stored in the application's database, it becomes persistent and will execute whenever any user views the affected page. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it operates within the security context of the hosting website, meaning the malicious script can access the same cookies and session data that legitimate users possess, effectively enabling session hijacking and authentication credential theft.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using IBM Marketing Platform, as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive marketing data, customer information, and platform administrative functions. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the system, creating an ongoing threat vector that can affect multiple users over extended periods. The attack surface is particularly broad since marketing platforms often handle sensitive customer data, campaign information, and administrative controls, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for business operations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability eliminates the need for physical access or complex network reconnaissance, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking low-effort, high-impact attacks.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious scripts from being stored or executed. The platform should enforce strict sanitization of all user-supplied content, implementing both server-side and client-side validation controls that adhere to OWASP XSS prevention guidelines. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution and monitor for suspicious activities within their marketing platform environments. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for credential access through the theft of session cookies and authentication tokens. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation flaws in other components of the marketing ecosystem, ensuring comprehensive protection against persistent XSS threats that could compromise the broader organizational security infrastructure.