CVE-2016-0283 in WebSphere Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the OpenID Connect (OIDC) client web application in IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) Liberty Profile 8.5.5 before 8.5.5.9 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0283 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the OpenID Connect client implementation of IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile version 8.5.5 prior to 8.5.5.9. This weakness exists in the web application component responsible for handling OpenID Connect authentication flows, specifically when processing crafted URLs that contain malicious script payloads. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the OIDC client implementation, creating an attack vector where remote adversaries can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the Liberty Profile OIDC client processes a maliciously crafted URL that contains script code within its parameters or path components. During the authentication flow, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before rendering it in the web response, allowing the injected code to execute within the context of a victim's browser session. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be leveraged by attackers who control the URL parameters or redirect endpoints used during the OpenID Connect authentication process. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent security flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal user session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malicious content that appears to originate from a trusted authentication service. Given that the vulnerability affects the OpenID Connect client implementation, it could compromise authentication flows that are critical for enterprise applications relying on federated identity management. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be executed through standard web navigation without requiring special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors.
Organizations utilizing IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty Profile should immediately implement mitigations including applying the relevant security patches released by IBM, which address the input validation issues in the OIDC client implementation. Additional protective measures include implementing proper input sanitization at the application level, deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script payloads, and configuring proper output encoding for all dynamic content. The mitigation strategies should align with industry best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding controls. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their authentication flows and monitor for suspicious activity related to OpenID Connect endpoints. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating and sanitizing all user-supplied input, especially within authentication and authorization components where the potential for privilege escalation and data compromise exists. This flaw serves as a reminder of the necessity for robust security controls in identity management systems and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all application components.