CVE-2016-0348 in TRIRIGA Application Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in IBM TRIRIGA Application Platform 3.3, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, and 3.4 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that insert XSS sequences. IBM X-Force ID: 111813.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0348 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within IBM TRIRIGA Application Platform versions 3.3 through 3.4. This CSRF vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms of the platform, enabling remote attackers to exploit the system's trust relationship with authenticated users. The flaw allows adversaries to manipulate legitimate user sessions by injecting malicious requests that can execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's browser. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it combines CSRF exploitation with cross-site scripting capabilities, creating a multi-layered attack vector that can bypass traditional security controls. The affected versions of TRIRIGA Application Platform suffer from insufficient validation of request origins and lack proper anti-CSRF token implementation, making them susceptible to unauthorized administrative actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the platform's failure to properly validate and authenticate cross-origin requests. IBM TRIRIGA Application Platform relies on session cookies for user authentication, but does not adequately verify the source of requests originating from external domains. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit existing vulnerabilities in web applications that communicate with TRIRIGA to generate forged requests that appear legitimate to the application server. The vulnerability specifically affects the platform's handling of requests that insert XSS sequences, which means that successful exploitation can lead to persistent XSS attacks against other users within the same application environment. This combination creates a particularly dangerous scenario where an attacker can not only hijack user sessions but also inject malicious scripts that can compromise the entire user base within the application's scope. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0348 extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform administrative actions within the TRIRIGA platform. This includes but is not limited to creating new user accounts, modifying existing user permissions, accessing sensitive data, and potentially escalating privileges to system administrator levels. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, compromised web applications that interact with TRIRIGA, or by leveraging other existing vulnerabilities in the network infrastructure. Organizations using affected versions of IBM TRIRIGA Application Platform face significant risk of unauthorized data access, data manipulation, and potential complete system compromise. The attack can be executed without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it particularly insidious and difficult to detect. The vulnerability also impacts the platform's integrity and availability, as attackers can potentially disrupt normal business operations through malicious requests that modify critical application data or configuration settings.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2016-0348. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms across all web applications that interact with TRIRIGA, ensuring that each request contains a unique, unpredictable token that validates the user's intent. The platform should be updated to versions that include proper CSRF protection mechanisms, as IBM has released patches addressing this vulnerability. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious requests attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security assessments should include testing for CSRF vulnerabilities in all web applications, particularly those that handle sensitive data or administrative functions. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding can help prevent XSS injection attempts that may be combined with CSRF attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to recognize phishing attempts that may be used to exploit this vulnerability. The mitigation strategies should align with NIST SP 800-53 security controls and follow the ATT&CK framework's approach to defending against credential access and privilege escalation techniques. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive application security testing procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.