CVE-2016-2863 in WebSphere Commerce
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Commerce 7.0 Feature Pack 8, 8.0.0.x before 8.0.0.10, and 8.0.1.x before 8.0.1.2 allows remote authenticated users to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that insert XSS sequences.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2019
The CVE-2016-2863 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within IBM WebSphere Commerce platforms, specifically affecting versions 7.0 Feature Pack 8, 8.0.0.x prior to 8.0.0.10, and 8.0.1.x prior to 8.0.1.2. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of web application security and authentication mechanisms, creating a dangerous attack vector that enables malicious actors to exploit authenticated sessions. The flaw resides in the platform's insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that can be executed in the context of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from WebSphere Commerce's failure to properly validate the referer header or implement robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms. When authenticated users navigate to malicious websites or click on compromised links, the system processes requests without adequate verification of the request source, enabling attackers to inject cross-site scripting sequences through forged requests. This creates a dangerous scenario where legitimate user sessions can be hijacked and manipulated to perform unauthorized actions, including the insertion of malicious JavaScript payloads that persist in the application's data handling processes. The vulnerability specifically impacts the platform's session management and request validation logic, bypassing normal authentication checkpoints that should prevent such unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2863 extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to inject persistent XSS payloads that can compromise user data and application integrity. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within user sessions, potentially leading to complete account takeover scenarios where sensitive customer information, transaction data, and administrative privileges become accessible to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or network, enabling widespread exploitation from external networks. This creates significant risk for e-commerce environments where user authentication and session management are critical for protecting customer data and maintaining business continuity, particularly in scenarios involving financial transactions and personal information handling.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including the deployment of proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms, enhanced request validation procedures, and comprehensive session management controls. The remediation strategy should focus on implementing the latest security patches provided by IBM, which address the core validation flaws in the WebSphere Commerce platform. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls, enhanced monitoring of user session activities, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in related systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery conditions, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK framework category T1566 for initial access through malicious web content. Proper implementation of CSRF protection mechanisms including token generation, validation, and session management should be prioritized to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the broader application ecosystem.