CVE-2016-0387 in TRIRIGA Application Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM TRIRIGA Application Platform 3.3 before 3.3.2.6, 3.4 before 3.4.2.4, and 3.5 before 3.5.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2019
The CVE-2016-0387 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM TRIRIGA Application Platform, a comprehensive enterprise software solution designed for business process management and workflow automation. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to the mentioned patches across multiple release lines including 3.3.2.6, 3.4.2.4, and 3.5.0.2, exposing organizations to significant security risks through web-based attack vectors. The flaw resides in the platform's handling of user-supplied input within URL parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the TRIRIGA platform's web interface components. When authenticated users navigate to specially crafted URLs containing malicious script payloads, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in web pages. This inadequate sanitization process allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the browser context of legitimate users. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS flaw since the malicious content can be stored within the application's data structures and subsequently delivered to other users during normal application usage patterns. According to CWE taxonomy, this represents a CWE-79: "Cross-site Scripting" vulnerability, specifically manifesting as a stored XSS variant that can be exploited through URL manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. Authenticated users who encounter the maliciously crafted URLs may unknowingly execute scripts that can steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, modify application data, or even escalate privileges within the application's access control framework. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that TRIRIGA Application Platform typically serves as a central hub for enterprise business processes, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to gain persistent access to organizational workflows. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531: "Account Access Removal" and T1071.004: "Application Layer Protocol: DNS" when considering potential lateral movement and data exfiltration capabilities.
Organizations utilizing affected TRIRIGA versions face substantial risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in environments where multiple users interact with the platform regularly. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means attackers do not require physical access to the network, while the authenticated user requirement provides a more targeted attack vector that can be particularly damaging when successful. Security teams should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack paths, and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns in web logs. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security assessments can help identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase, while user education regarding suspicious URL handling remains crucial for reducing successful exploitation rates in environments where immediate patching may not be feasible.