CVE-2016-0261 in Curam Social Program Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Curam Social Program Management 6.0.0 before SP2 EP29, 6.0.4 before 6.0.4.6 iFix3, 6.0.5 before 6.0.5.9 iFix2, 6.1.0 before 6.1.0.1 iFix1, and 6.1.1 before 6.1.1.1 iFix1; and IBM Care Management 6.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors. IBM X-Force ID: 110604.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-0261 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting IBM Curam Social Program Management and IBM Care Management products across multiple version ranges. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The affected versions include specific service pack and iFix releases, indicating this was a targeted issue within IBM's enterprise social and care management platforms that were widely deployed in government and healthcare sectors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's processing pipeline. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through unspecified vectors that ultimately get rendered in web pages without proper sanitization. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code in the context of affected users' browsers. This type of attack vector allows for session hijacking, credential theft, and the potential for more sophisticated attacks such as phishing or data exfiltration.
From an operational standpoint, the implications of this vulnerability are severe given that these applications are typically deployed in sensitive environments where they handle confidential social program data, healthcare information, and government-related records. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to systems or insider knowledge to launch successful attacks. The vulnerability affects users who interact with the applications through web browsers, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including email links, web forms, or malicious websites that direct users to compromised application interfaces. The attack surface is broad due to the nature of web applications and the fact that the vulnerability exists in multiple product versions and release streams.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of available iFixes and service packs as provided by IBM. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing proper input validation mechanisms, output encoding, and content security policies to prevent script execution. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their deployed environments to ensure all affected versions have been patched and that proper security configurations are in place. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Scripting, specifically targeting web-based scripting environments where such vulnerabilities can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust security controls in enterprise applications handling sensitive data.