CVE-2016-0336 in Security Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Security Identity Manager (ISIM) Virtual Appliance 7.0.0.0 through 7.0.1.0 before 7.0.1-ISS-SIM-FP0001 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors. IBM X-Force ID: 111737.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0336 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance versions 7.0.0.0 through 7.0.1.0, prior to the 7.0.1-ISS-SIM-FP0001 patch release. This security weakness affects organizations relying on IBM's identity management infrastructure, creating potential entry points for malicious actors to exploit the system's web interface. The vulnerability specifically impacts the virtual appliance implementation of IBM Security Identity Manager, which serves as a comprehensive solution for managing digital identities and access control within enterprise environments.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application layer of the ISIM Virtual Appliance. Attackers with authenticated access privileges can leverage this flaw to inject malicious scripts or HTML content into the application's response handling. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest across multiple input points within the web interface, potentially including user profile fields, configuration parameters, or administrative input forms. This weakness allows attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising session integrity and enabling further attack escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the ISIM web interface and potentially access sensitive identity management functions. Remote authenticated users can exploit this vulnerability to perform actions such as modifying user accounts, accessing restricted administrative features, or stealing session cookies that would otherwise be protected by proper security controls. The implications are particularly severe for identity management systems where the compromise of the web interface can lead to widespread access control failures and potential privilege escalation within the organization's identity infrastructure. Organizations utilizing this virtual appliance may experience unauthorized access to critical identity data and potential disruption of their identity management services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0336 should prioritize immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patch 7.0.1-ISS-SIM-FP0001, which specifically addresses the XSS vulnerability in the affected ISIM Virtual Appliance versions. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including enhanced input validation, output encoding, and regular security assessments of their identity management infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks. Security teams should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify potential additional vectors and ensure that all authentication controls remain robust following patch deployment. Regular monitoring of IBM security advisories and maintaining updated security configurations will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.