CVE-2016-0265 in Campaign
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Campaign is vulnerable to cross-site scripting, caused by improper validation of user-supplied input. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability using a specially-crafted URL to execute script in a victim's Web browser within the security context of the hosting Web site, once the URL is clicked. An attacker could use this vulnerability to steal the victim's cookie-based authentication credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2020
IBM Campaign version 9.0 and earlier contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied input. This flaw exists in the web application's handling of URL parameters, where malicious input is not properly sanitized before being processed and returned to users. The vulnerability is classified as a classic xss flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, making it a significant security risk for organizations relying on the platform. The improper input validation creates an attack surface where crafted malicious URLs can be used to execute unauthorized scripts in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to craft a specially designed URL that contains malicious script code within its parameters. When a victim clicks on this crafted URL, the malicious script executes within the victim's browser session, leveraging the trust relationship between the user and the legitimate web application. This attack vector operates under the principle that the web application fails to properly encode or escape user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses, allowing script execution to occur in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability specifically targets the web interface of IBM Campaign, making it accessible through standard web browser interactions without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables session hijacking through cookie theft. Attackers can leverage the xss flaw to steal authentication cookies that contain session identifiers, effectively allowing them to impersonate legitimate users within the IBM Campaign application. This capability represents a serious threat to application security since it can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive campaign data, configuration settings, and user management functions. The stolen credentials can be used to perform administrative actions, modify campaign content, or access restricted information that should only be available to authorized personnel. The vulnerability essentially provides an attacker with a foothold that can escalate to full application compromise.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, starting with immediate patching of affected IBM Campaign versions to address the input validation deficiencies. The remediation strategy should include proper output encoding of all user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses, implementing content security policies to prevent script execution, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. Security teams should also conduct thorough input validation testing to ensure that all web application parameters are properly sanitized and that no similar vulnerabilities exist in other components. Additionally, implementing browser security controls such as the httpOnly flag for session cookies and enabling secure flag attributes can help reduce the impact of successful xss attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws and represents a common attack pattern categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers use browser-based scripting to execute malicious code within the victim's session context.