CVE-2016-0370 in Forms Experience Builder
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Forms Experience Builder 8.5.x and 8.6.x before 8.6.3 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted input to an application that was built with this product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0370 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Forms Experience Builder versions 8.5.x and 8.6.x prior to 8.6.3. This security weakness enables remote authenticated attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through carefully crafted input submissions to applications constructed using this development platform. The vulnerability resides in the application's insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms, which fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before it is rendered back to users within the web interface. This flaw specifically impacts the Forms Experience Builder's handling of form data and user interactions, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious payloads that can persist and execute within the victim's browser context.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw operates by allowing attackers to manipulate the application's data handling processes, where user inputs intended for form fields or other interactive components are not adequately filtered or escaped before being displayed to end users. When authenticated users interact with applications built using the vulnerable Forms Experience Builder, their browsers execute the injected scripts in the context of the vulnerable application, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation. The authentication requirement for exploitation means that attackers must first establish legitimate credentials within the system, though this does not significantly reduce the threat level given the potential for privilege escalation and data compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0370 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the compromised environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal user sessions, access sensitive data, modify form configurations, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on IBM Forms Experience Builder for creating web applications, particularly those handling sensitive information or requiring user interaction. The persistence of the XSS payload means that once injected, malicious scripts can execute against multiple users who encounter the affected application components, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for applications with broad user bases or administrative interfaces. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face potential compliance violations and significant security risks when handling personal data or confidential business information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0370 primarily focus on immediate remediation through the installation of IBM's security patches and updates for Forms Experience Builder versions 8.6.3 and later. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected instances and conduct thorough testing to ensure compatibility with existing applications. Additional defensive measures include implementing robust input validation frameworks, enforcing strict output encoding for all user-generated content, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injections. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in application frameworks. Organizations should consider implementing content security policies and monitoring user access logs for unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given the ATT&CK framework's categorization of this as a web application vulnerability, security teams should integrate this threat into their incident response procedures and consider the potential for lateral movement if attackers gain access to administrative accounts through the exploited XSS vulnerability.